Star Wheel
First published by Origami Poems Project in 2020 as a microchapbook titled Star Wheel (view or download the free PDF). Each poem in this collection was inspired by the name of a crochet pattern at the home of Alice Frampton’s mother, Patricia Emel, in Seabeck, Washington. Originally written 10–23 November 2002. See also “Crocheting.”
flower show—
a crocheted doily
under each pot
late-morning quiet—
a dusting of pollen
on the wedding table
bridal reception—
the queen anne’s lace
still unarranged
flowered latticework—
the plein air painting
lacks the arachnids
long-weekend getaway—
the star-wheel embroidery
still unfinished
clearing skies—
I look up “marquesa”
in my computer dictionary
the harpist’s sigh . . .
bridesmaid’s bouquet
askew on the head table
hands up!
the bride’s bouquet
in mid air
pulling daisy petals . . .
the country church bell
down for repairs
Texas diner—
the tip jar
filled with pesos
pomp and circumstance
the giggling kindergartner
trips on her robe
heavy garbage can—
sweet clover
from here to the lane
prairie flower—
your sketch
of just its fallen petal
aching thumb—
bumblebee
yellows the swatter
arching Frisbee—
a leafy bower
hides the garden doorway
the “Old Louisiana” crochet pattern
she tells me is hers . . .
intermittent rain
my cavalier remark
asking what she’s done all day—
steaming lasagna
waving here and there
over our Birkenstocks,
starflowers
newly painted trellis—
the agent arrives
to lift out the Sold sign
comatose teenager . . .
“Happy New Year”
whispered in her ear
gentle lawn sprinkler—
the fancy-free first grader
twirls in the garden
Arabian night—
sand ticking
the Moorish window
impossible
to write about—
governor’s lady
farmhouse wedding—
nosegays reflecting
in the mantel mirror
honeymoon suite—
crinoline and velvet
fall to the floor
snowflake fantasy—
the unfinished puzzle pieces
swept off the table edge
May flowers—
a change-of-address sticker
on redirected mail
April morning—
the last page
shuts by itself