Three Poems by Joan McNerney: Amazing how, An Accountant, Scarves

Three Poems
by Joan McNerney

Amazing how

only last Thursday
after another morning
of clichés
as freezing winds pushed
us along grey avenues
you shouted my name
in the middle of Main Street
calling me poet
and instantly mountains
of mediocrity were melted
by your smile.

An Accountant

grabbled with white ledgers
tight rows of numbers. He could
calculate the secret of ciphers.

Who else would appreciate
the eloquence of one?
This fat place maker known as zero?
Why mystics marveled at the holy seven?

While he slept his dreams multiplied.
Suddenly long division subtracted an
unknown quantity yet sums still added up.

Where had his equations wandered?

Scarves

I want to make scarves from the sky.
Since I’m not much of a seamstress,
here’s hoping it won’t be too hard.

To start I’ll just pick up a fleecy
white cloud to cover my neck.

Maybe create a dove grey scarf
and cut out pale blue ones too.
Make entire closets full of them.

At sunset I will fashion boas
of bright ruby and tangerine.

My midnight shawl will be long
gleaming ebony covering my
shoulders keeping me warm.

If lucky I’ll find some rainbows…
kaleidoscopes to wrap up in.

I will list them on eBay and Craig’s,
hang pictures on my Facebook wall.
Imagine, everybody will want them!
Would you like one too?

Better put your order in now.

Joan McNerney was born in Brooklyn, New York and now resides in Ravena, a town outside of Albany, New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from the Board of Regents, New York State Excelsior University. Most of her professional background has been spent in the advertising business. Her poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, 63 channels, Spectrum, and three Bright Spring Press Anthologies. Four of her books have been published by fine small literary presses. She has recited her work at the National Arts Club, Russell Sage College, McNay Art Institute and other distinguished venues. A recent reading was sponsored by the American Academy of Poetry.

Copyright 2011, Joan McNerney. © This work is protected under the U.S. copyright laws. It may not be reproduced, reprinted, reused, or altered without the expressed written permission of the author.