By Margaret Roncone By Margaret Roncone
Island Voices, Literary, May 2024
Rhubarb Patch on Hardscrabble Mountain
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman Seán and I spent several decades in Ferry County and had a number of adventures, some of which we can tell now that time has passed. The county is not the largest of the 39 counties of Washington state, but is the most remote, and like Vashon, is basically…
Island Voices, Literary, May 2024
Sailing Into the Sunset
By Suzanna Leigh Rich and Suzanna on Eli-Oh My beloved and I had a “Qufi” wedding; I am a Quaker and Rich is a Sufi, so we combined traditions. We were married on the solstice, on the beach at Lincoln Park in Seattle, where friends from Seattle could find us easily, and friends from Vashon…
April 2024, Island Voices, Literary
Mortise and Tenon
By Seán C. Malone and John Sweetman “How many of these joints have you done?” “Well, only one today, but it’s not even lunchtime yet.” That refers to the “Mortise and Tenon” joints we were making to assemble a “picnic cover” for our friend Bill who had a property on Indian Point. It has been…
Island Voices, Literary, March 2024
Twinkies and a 1977 Ford Pickup
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman We were poking around the old Ford F-250 four-wheel drive three-quarter-ton pickup that Seán acquired from me about 30 years ago. It seemed to have a problem with steering. This truck still is a formidable beast, with an 8,000-pound winch and oversized custom bumpers and guards, but it was…
Island Voices, January 2024, Literary
Good Santa vs Bad Santa
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman As we passed by Mikey’s Fish Stand … now selling Christmas trees, naturally our conversation turned to Christmas seasons long past. Never to argue with John, but there is no “bad Santa Claus,” as he is modeled after a saint and always produces positive thoughts. Seán always argues with…
Children, January 2024, Literary, Poetry
The Bear King’s Lullaby
By Jane Valencia, inspired by the song “Binwag’s Lullaby,” lyrics by Debra Knodel Once upon a time, a Bear King lived in a great forest hall in the north. During summer and the time of abundance, he had many visitors to his hall – Deer, Chickadee, Raccoon, and Red Fox to name a few who…
December 2023, Literary, Poetry
Naked Are The Branches
By Antoinette M. Levine Autumn reflects – natural release cycles – that encourage a wise willingness to let go. Nature’s seasonal guidance inspired Ms. Levine to pen this poem.
December 2023, Literary, Poetry
It Was a Night of Psychedelic Canaries at Grandmother’s House
The baby screams in the house full of leftover turkey & stuffing, fries and pies potatoes mashed by another shrieker & his dad. Sleep settles into all the warm beds but mine. Awake as windows rattle I pen a poem. Stillness embraces all the others downstairs. Our dogs mumble in sleep, paws tapping. I imagine…
December 2023, Literary, Poetry
A Christmas Resurrection or “Dead Santas”
By Claudia Hollander-Lucas