That First Year, Without Joe
written by: Emalisa Rose
He’d carry the red plaided
blanket, inviting the lot of us
to “come sit for storytime” along
with s’mores and some chitter chat.
Jane brought the chips and Aunt
Tina’s paella, never revealing
the secret ingredients.
Dodge ball and fireflies, watching
the stars draw our names on the
sky ceiling; this place we made camp
every year.
But Joe should have been here.
Joe with his blanket, right here,
cancer free, in our annual photo.
Emalisa Rose is a poet, macrame artist and animal rescue volunteer. She lives by a shore town, which
provides much of the inspiration for her art. She works as a lunch lady in a NJ public school. Her current passion provoked by the down time of the pandemic, is birding, which she plans to incorporate into her work. Her poems have appeared in several journals including Ariel Chart, the Big Window Review, Poettree Zine.
provides much of the inspiration for her art. She works as a lunch lady in a NJ public school. Her current passion provoked by the down time of the pandemic, is birding, which she plans to incorporate into her work. Her poems have appeared in several journals including Ariel Chart, the Big Window Review, Poettree Zine.
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