Author Archives: janishaag

For Sweet Adelines, it’s all aboutthe show, and there they are,the whole chorus, every womancostumed for Halloween, singing their hearts out, Momin her witch’s hat pointingskyward, her plastic crooked nosehanging from black glassless frames. Kiss today goodbye,the sweetness and the … Continue reading →

You, more recently in my life,never knew him, but let meshow him to you: Here he is, dark hair shot withearly white, hunching slightlyover the kitchen counter,chopping onions, carrots,something, making things,making food. For me. There he is—well, his long legs—sticking … Continue reading →

She who made us two,we are now threeof the four who used to be. He, gone these two decades,who taught her to skim over wateron first two, then one, ski, and, after we came along,they put us in the boathe … Continue reading →

on to the nextin to the breachunto the horizonjust out of reach over to the sidein view of the seanearby lies younext to lies me between or betwixtbecause of, you sayunder or overapart from the fray during & afteralongside we … Continue reading →

We fear what we can’t see,but none of us can seewhat’s on the other side. We’re not even convincedthat there is another side,which frightens us all the more. This can’t be it, can it?We want so much more—more time, more … Continue reading →

Though these fish have never traveledthis far up their home waters, they are making their way uprivernow after their long journey from the sea where they will deposittheir precious cargo of the next generation in a place their ancestorsswam more … Continue reading →

“Poem”: meaning “a made thing”—poet Pádraig Ó Tuama From poesis in Greek—making—the oldest term for a poet was maker. So we make things,though not things that can be held—as painters or sculptors do—or put on walls or shelves for admiring … Continue reading →

As I drive across the causewayI think of the bats underneathwho surely must be sleepingat high noon, given that theyemerge at dusk on theirappointed rounds asinsect catchers andgood stewards ofthese rice fields. I wonder if all the traffic noisebothers them … Continue reading →

You do not remember that self,that more-than-half-century-ago self, that skinny girl with braces and so muchlife ahead of her, though she sports the crinkly left eye that still looks smaller when yousmile, as if you are winking, just like your … Continue reading →

It’s been a long day, and you’re losing lightfaster now, the days shortening longbefore you’re ready, and at the busy intersection where it alwaystakes longer than you like for the lightto go green, you look beyond what’s in front of … Continue reading →