The sun on East HillGlints off an orange diamond signIn the gloved right hand of theConstruction workerWho raises his left hand andCircles his arm bigAnd gives a flourish of the wristAs he points us on our way. But I don’t want to goBecause now he is dancing,Doing a spin move round the poleHeels kicked high,Continue reading “Sun on East Hill”
Tag Archives: poems
Eurypterus Remipes
This year, the following poem won 2nd place in the New York State Fair Poetry Contest! It was a joy to go there and read it aloud, along with other contest winners. My inner 8-year-old was thrilled to learn that there was such a thing as a State Fossil. And then when I saw whatContinue reading “Eurypterus Remipes”
When Roe Fell
On a Friday of heartbreakone of the neighborhood vixenshelped herself to cherriesdropped on the groundby our backyard treenosing nonchalantlyfor a hospitable half hourno question to her freedomsjust an omnivorewith no dilemmaonly juicy bursts of sourand gentle pink lightthrough tree branchesat the end of a better dayin the history of foxesthan of humans. Stacey Murphy, 6/24/2022
Statement Footwear
Green converse sneakers.A wry deliberate choice when wornwith a green lamé and black lace dressstrapless for the start of summer 1987fancy and scandalousperfect for an ex-boyfriend’s promwhere I knew no one elsethe breakup days before, the date kept anywayto not waste this va-voom costume withmint green high top sneakers lending balance. The look and theContinue reading “Statement Footwear”
Women’s Day 2022
On Women’s Day –we stand holding up more than half the skyour arms as tired as our fake smilesupon uttering a wish,“Happy international women’s day.”Happy?Too tired for happy. In Americatired of a Senate that won’t pass Women’s Healthcare Actstired of states grabbing for control over women’s bodiestired of arguing why an athlete should be ableContinue reading “Women’s Day 2022”
My Body
On January 20th it was the five-year anniversary of the Women’s March, an event that occurred in hundreds of cities and communities around the world and involved millions of people. I was at the march in Washington DC. I remember the way we felt at the end – like we had a toehold on hopeContinue reading “My Body”
For Madisyn, Tate, Hana, and Justin
Today, my son, you ate two toasted wafflesas the early light came upoutside our windows.Two waffles and four strawberriessteeped in syrupand as you went off to finishgetting ready for schoolI thought of the four teensshot dead in Michigan,Madisyn, Tate, Hana, Justinand what they had for breakfaston their last morning of school. I thought of theContinue reading “For Madisyn, Tate, Hana, and Justin”
Dia De Los Muertos (2009)
In 2009, just after Halloween, I flew to Tucson to be with my dad. His second wife, Lynn, had passed away just a week or so before. The day before my return coincided with the All Souls Procession, a celebration of life that defies description. It really does. It’s a giant, moving party-as-parade that endsContinue reading “Dia De Los Muertos (2009)”
Leaves Let Go
It is not the way of leaves to care about how they fall. It doesn’t matter whether there are heavy, thunder-filled clouds overhead or miles of bright blue and sunshine. A leaf doesn’t cry out in pain if a harsh wind tugs it from its twig nor does it giggle with mischief if it managesContinue reading “Leaves Let Go”
Fledglings
A brown cardinal babynestled in the crookof our back porch trumpet vineinvisible until her big red dad returnedagain and againbearing grubs to nourishand maybe sootheafter her important launch. Later in Targeta mom scouring aislesher own fledgling just new in a dormthe store shelvesbare of what she really sought:Comfort. Love.Courage for a newly flown almost-manHis deepeningContinue reading “Fledglings”
Stacey Murphy __ Poems 