it’s this meeting again time on time;
recycled issues mock us with their wide-eyed grins.
while the leader speaks, his role clearly enunciated,
with gestures that command attention in an artful, oratorical way

from here, in the back row,
it rolls by like so much spam on my email screen,
until something that really interests me hits the mental inbox -
then I am all ears, keen, turning off my answers so I can listen;
otherwise, the spam piles up
my only hope is that his stuff won’t fill the box.

Joanne Alfano

I chose blue: the color of sky, of freedom.
That’s my sister Martha in rose, then Cousin Emma,
then - oh, I’ve forgotten her name
but she sistered all of us.
After sharing lives for so many years,
we gathered for a moment,
dressed in colors that even today
bring to mind wildflowers in the afternoon sun.

Our fancy hats make us seem taller
and the bold colors suit our sense of adventure,
but don’t be fooled by the organdy and ruffles -
we were tough girls.
By sharing our strength we survived
and raised families in this wild land.
This picture reminds me of our long friendship.
and how we found a pioneer behind each smile.

You won’t inherit my hat and dress when I pass on
for they are already long gone,
but I will leave you and your sisters
a legacy of dreams, friendship, courage and hard work,
sunlight on wildflowers,
mountains to challenge you
and freedom to find your own wild land.

Joanne Alfano
Inspired by Chris Imgrund’s drawing “The Girls”