The April Featured Poem “Car Racing Through the Rain ” is from Cloudbreak. I was grateful for the opportunity to visit many Planned Parenthood Northern California supporters and Health Centers around the Bay and up to the Oregon border. Three decades of commutes like these, when I was CEO, eventually wore me down a bit, … More Car Racing Through the Rain- April, 2021 Featured Poem
Poetic Matrix Press has published my second book, CLOUDBREAK. This book of poetry covers what brought me to my work with social justice and reproductive health, and how I transitioned, after 37 years, to writing. I would love to have you read my book. Thank you to my reviewers, friends, family, teachers, editor and the … More CLOUDBREAK is Available Now!
I first wrote Respect as a more ordinarily formatted poem, but I am presenting it below as a Haibun. This is an originally Japanese form of prose paired with a haiku. Haibuns lend themselves to experimentation of form. Our intensive time in the house, these pandemic days, draws my attention to neighborhood non-human creatures. I … More Respect- Featured Poem for February, 2021
I have been refining and rewriting this poem for a couple of years. I pleased to share this version but it might still change. My daughter is a very active knitter right now and I am repeatedly inspired by the delightful textures, rich colors, and sheep smells of the different wools. Knitting seems to me … More Pacific Coast – Featured Poem January, 2021
Living among Monterey pines in San Francisco, I temporarily forgot about deciduous leaves in winter. Thank you to Sacramento for bringing them back to me. Stay well these Holidays. Overlooked Ghosts You can see their spirits streaming awayin ectoplasm prints preserved each autumn.Not every tree’s leavesmanifest dying so clearly— releasing slow-motion scarlet flamesas they are … More Overlooked Ghosts––Featured Poem for December, 2020
We lived part-time in Sacramento over the past 18 months. Their trees are large, beautiful, and numerous. They reminded me of Massachusetts, at least part of the time. When the orange tree ripened, I was quite sure I was not in New England. Sacramento just outlawed leaf blowers. I approve. This poem is from the … More Land Park Fall – Featured Poem for November, 2020
More shelter-in-place personal revelations. Hope you all are staying well. Giraffe A six feet 5” girlis sheltering-in-placein our house.I am 5 feet 2”and dropping.I want to stareat her tallnessas at a redwood.I lean backto see her. In her life,ceilings arereachable skies.Spider websin upper cornersof patio doorsget in her hair.Down the backstairs,she ducks to avoidbeing foreheaded. … More Giraffe–Poem for October, 2020
What strange times these are, wonderful moments and terrible happenings. So for a change of pace, I serve you my September poem. Fun to read it out loud. Trigger warning for people avoiding sugar. For those of you who wish to go further into the science of giggling rats, just Google Scientific American – “giggling … More Ode To Doughnuts- Featured Poem for September, 2020
I am sadly creating quite a collection of fire poems. This poem is from the Paradise Fires. So many fires. It hot even in San Francisco today and smoky. So many people have lost homes and livelihoods and have it way worse than us. My thoughts are with them. Avocet Online first published this poem … More Fires Burn in Paradise- Featured Poem for August, 2020
Like many poets, I have a growing collection of pandemic poems. Here is one for a smile. In the San Francisco summer fog I feel even more like I am hibernating. Hope you and yours are staying as well and joyful, as you can. Cardboard Boxes ( Shelter-in-Place; May 2020) Lying inside, on the … More Featured Poem: July, 2020
Heather Saunders Estes 