Writers of Kern Poetry Webslam

                                                     
No Homilies, Please!
(an Italian Sonnet-1975)
by LaVerne Lovelady
 
Don’t tell me to accept the things I see!
The ills my mother suffered at the hands
of sexist attitudes, were not the Plan
of Father God, but that of bigotry.
Don’t speak to me that lie about my Place,
with child, at home, without the pow’r of choice;
nor ask me speak, with condescending voice,
submissive to this patriarchal race.
 
For there are ways of death I will not choose;
from weapons only feckless fools contrive.
I fight a fight I do not dare to lose.
The fire within burns blessed, and will survive,
     to purify the fiendishly obtuse;
       to purge the dross — restoring burnished lives.

LaVerne Lovelady is a 30-year veteran teacher of English and Interpretive Fiction. Her poems, essays, memoirs, and political commentary have been published in various publications through the years, including the WOK Anthology 2017 and CWC Literary Review.  Her first novel The Quay Question was recently published.    LaVerne is a native Oklahoman, a direct descendant of the Alabama Creek Path Cherokees. She lives in Bakersfield with three adorable cats: Soo-Lin, Siam, and Miss Kitty.

Morning
by Natalia Corres        
 
 
The cat is doing her morning laps,
mine and then my husband’s
as we sit captive in front of our computers,
working from home.
The dog has melted into a dark snoring
puddle on the carpet after our
morning adventure of a mile or more
in the neighborhood.
It is a pensive quiet.
We can feel the world breathing softly.
Waiting for the next chapter in
the story that is being written for us
worldwide; like the cliff hangers of old –
will there be a new challenge
as soon as this one seems over?
Or will we have a respite?
The cat cares not as long as my lap is available.
The dog continues his gentle snore.

Natalia Corres has worked in technology for a few decades and now spends her time in creative pursuits. An active member of the California Writers Club – Writers of Kern (www.writersofkern.com) branch, she lives with her husband, their dog and their cat in their sanctuary in suburbia.