August 7-13, 2017: Poetry from Carol Oberg and Richard Kalfus

​Carol Oberg and Richard Kalfus

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​Carol Oberg
coberg2@jamadots.com

Bio (auto)

I began my writing career with Blue Mountain Arts, Inc., publishing my poetry on greeting cards worldwide, for many years. I was one of three featured poets in Ancient Paths, issue 16 (ten works, one of which was nominated for a Pushcart award). I have also published with The Avocet, Burningword, Harbinger Asylum, Garbanzo, Artifact Nouveau, New Plains Review, Bacopa Literary Journal, and others. My husband and I are semi- retired on a small inland lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The following work is Copyright © 2017, and owned by ​Carol Oberg and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.


Sunshine Makes Rain Impossible

The first green grass
Is that linguini piece
Growing behind the wood stove
That exhales wide tubes of smoke
Without inhaling ever and
The thermostats set at 67
But its 75 inside again with
Most of the windows open.
Its time we let the
Fire burn out and in bed
Before dawn decide
To make that long trip
To town because
There are not enough
Blankets in this house.

-First time rights to Carcinogenic Poetry
Spring of 2013

 



Richard Kalfus
rkalfus@charter.net

Bio (auto)

Richard Kalfus, from St. Louis, Missouri, is a retired professor of German. French and Holocaust Genocide Studies. He has published poetry, Foreign Language and Holocaust Education in professional journals.

The following work is Copyright © 2017, and owned by Richard Kalfus and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.

The Son-In-Laws (phone conversation)

Hi Lois.
So your son-in-law called you again?
Not my son-in-law: MY ex-son-in-law
How nice that he calls you.
I have another ex-son-in-law
And?
He also calls me often.
Speaks for your non-judgmental nature.
 
Wish my only son-in-law were so nice.
 
Two daughters, two marriages
Two son-in-laws; two ex-son-in-laws
Interesting family you have.
Yes and my husband and I—married 40 years now.
 
Yes, it is a different world.
 
And that’s not all.
I have two biological grandchildren,
And five step-grandchildren.
 
Expensive isn’t it?
Birthdays, Christmas, graduation gifts for all.
 
Sorry, I hear the doorbell.
Who was that?
Two flower bouquets
Two mother’s day wishes
two ex-son-in-laws.

 


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