Anne Higgins at Ragged Edge

On August 5, at 6 p.m., Anne Higgins will read at the Ragged Edge in Gettysburg, followed by an open mic. She is a phenomenal writer who you do not want to miss!

Anne Higgins grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She teaches English at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg Maryland. She is a member of the Daughters of Charity, and is a graduate of Saint Joseph College, Emmitsburg, the Johns Hopkins University, and the Washington Theological Union. She has had about ninety poems published, in Yankee, Commonweal, Spirituality and Health, the Melic Review, the Centrifugal Eye, and a variety of small magazines. She has given poetry readings at local bookstores and colleges, and was invited to give a reading at the Art and Soul Conference at Baylor University in February of 2001, and at the Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing in 2002. Garrison Keillor has read two of her poems on his radio show “The Writers Almanac.”

She has published five books of poetry: At the Year’s Elbow, Mellen Poetry Press 2000, republished by Wipf and Stock in 2006; Scattered Showers in a Clear Sky, Plain View Press 2007, Pick It Up and Read, a chapbook from Finishing Line Press 2008,

How the Hand Behaves, a chapbook from Finishing Line 2009, and Digging for God, from Wipf and Stock in 2010. A sixth book, Reconnaissance, is due out from Pecan Grove Press in the late fall of this year.

Poets' Corner Writing Group

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Poets' Corner at Cross Keys Village, the Brethren Home Community. What a fabulous group, brimming with poems and smiles! Here is some of their work. If I missed any of you, please send me some poems! :)

I have a dainty doggie Daisy
so I cannot be lazy
she sits with leash to walk
she looks like she could talk
take me out or I'll bark like crazy

By: Marion Conboy



Yippee! Summer is here!

Amusement parks, people enjoying the rides
Roller coasters and even water slides
Picnics in the park fried chicken yum-yum
Potato salad, watermelon and lemonade.
With picnics even the ants enjoy some
Oh! so many memories of fun for me

By: Ruby Parr



Lost Forever!

I've lost it, I've lost it. I didn't think I would!
It happened so quickly I didn't know I should
Have insured this gift, so many years I've had.
It gave me lots of happiness and now I am so sad.
It's gone forever, that I have been often told.
My memory's gone, now that I've grown old!

By: Ruth Beard



After Beethoven's 6th

There for a moment you breathe of fresh air,
As red and yellow flowers bend to and fro in the wind,
But in nature all is not peaceful and tranquil,
His music repeated several times and then the
Original rhythm with its slow agitation as
If a distant storm is gathering to engulf the man
The fury of the storm does not last long for as the
Sun returns to the sky, and the clouds dissipate.
The storm is over and the air has a new freshness.
Again the flowers do their dance, birds sing again.

By: Mark Lehman



Unwritten Songs

There are times when my soul sings
Words of praise, words of love,
Words of the greatest wisdom;
But I don't get them put on paper.

Unwritten words, lost forever;
Such sheer brilliance,
Such world understanding;
And I was too busy.

Real life interfered;
Those precious thoughts
Were fleeting long before
I could take pen to hand.

By: Nancy H. Smit




February 2nd

On a Pennsylvania hill
There's a rodent they call Phil.
He'll look outside
And will decide
What winter weather will.

By: Ivan Mechtly




"Fall is in the air"

Leaves, corn husks, fodder
They all go sailing by,
Propelled by forceful winds
Who can tell us why?

They swirl around corners
Going so many ways
How, then, do they end up
On our front porch day after days?

By: Evelyn Mechtly



A Hospital Symphony

There is a nightly symphony in a hospital
With call buttons sounding, phones ringing,
Voices calling, doors changing
Not "Eine Kleine Nachmusik"
But loud, disturbing sounds
Of humanity helping humanity
And we thank God for the clamor.

By: Ruella Funner




Betty Boop, Mom, and Me

Betty Boop used spit curls.
Mom and I did not.
We all wore stockings
And I wore jeans too.
Mom and Betty did not.
Mom and I wore glasses.
Betty Boop did not.
None of us had beauty marks.
Betty had a little voice.
Mom and I did not.

By: Ethlyn Bonnie Lehman



Good Advice

"Now that you're eighty
act like a lady.
Sit up straight and please
don't wiggle--
for goodness sake,
don't even giggle."

That's what you said
when I was three.
Please, mother, let me be me.

By: Betty May

Featured Reading at Lancaster Barnes & Noble

On Wednesday, July 27th, at 7:30 p.m., I will give a poetry reading, followed by an open mic at the Lancaster Barnes & Noble. If you can make it, I look forward to seeing you there! Bring poems to read during the open mic if you'd like to. Thanks to Le Hinton for the invitation to read!

Barnes & Noble
Red Rose Commons
1700 H Fruitville Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601

Poetry Critique in Hanover

On Monday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. the Hanover Poets will meet to discuss poems. Please bring yourself and a poem to share, with copies. Or just bring yourself. We meet in the cafe at Giant on the north side of town, off Eisenhower Drive. I hope to see you there! :)