Ann Marie Gamble

notes from the wordsmith trenches

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Archive for the ‘Poem’ Category

The Feminist Lassies’ Reply

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019

A Burns’ Night toast

Some set the laddies on one side, with lassies on the other
They expect clear lines, internal rhyme, no rebellious single mother.

You turn off the GPS while we toss and comb our tresses
You tally football players’ errors and we color-sort our dresses.

This kind of sorting in this age, is doomed to gang agley
The Medicis could say how roles worked then, or perhaps ask Char Corday.

Here the menfolk planned the meal and they’re mostly wearing skirts
To perpetuate old gender norms sets precedent that hurts.

Instead we dine to honor Scotland’s most beloved son
Renowned for wives and odes to love, not his brandished guns.

Burns used his words and wrote of mice, farming, friends, and drink
Instead of seeking to divide, or keep women at the sink.

The Scots know that the best sword is not steel but metaphoric
A lad who speaks instead of fights fares better than poor Yorick.

Scottish or not, o laddies here-you’ve thrown out these sexist boxes
No lassie here has had to settle-and some have landed foxes.

So to the laddies, one and all, tonight a glass let’s tilt.
Wet our throats and loudly cheer:
Down with trousers and up with kilts.

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Posted in Play, Poem, Uncategorized | No Comments »

One Block East of a Large University Campus

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

When the sixty-year-old told us it was "yard work" season, we suspected it was the first time he'd used air quotes.

When the sixty-year-old told us it was “yard work” season, we suspected it was the first time he’d used air quotes.

Our street sign is gone again.
“We live at the corner of Hope and Midterms,”
I’m going to tell the next guy who asks
Although hope is frequently disguised as beer pong
Shirtless baseball in the street
This time with a real ball
And at home base–yes–
My bag of recycling
Wine bottles and vegetable cans instead of beer by the case
I go outside to mow
But my deadlines aren’t clustered in April.

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Posted in Play, Poem | No Comments »

Split

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

Tanner thinks his dad should take
his broken down ole car to Maxwell’s.

But in the divorce
I got the mechanic.

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Posted in Poem | No Comments »

It Was Strange to Dream of You Once More

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

It was strange to dream of you once more.

Your crisis rippled through households to me.
Past hurts, anger and duties
now mine alone.

I am submerged
already wet
in a dishpan of daily demands,
washing the plates while you watch,
asking for more

this time I throw one

and break it.

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Posted in Poem | No Comments »

Handy Ann

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

I can fix any toilet
if you don’t mind getting wet
      (and it helps if you have a second bathroom because
      sometimes it takes me a long time).
I also install shut-off values and new faucets.

I wasn’t going to start
but in the new house
      (my house),
the toilet was the first thing to go.
And the plumber
is cute
but expensive.

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Posted in home repair, Poem | No Comments »

An Amended Plan

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

    Steam coils from the bath

    Befogged glasses slide tubward

    The book is reshelved

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Tags: haiku
Posted in Play, Poem, Reading | No Comments »

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