http://inwonderofwords.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Patricia F. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:14:54 GMT 2010-01-01T18:14:54Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977854094 Distant trees. Black claws Scratching an orange sky- That line between today and tomorrow Sinking low, Cinching the girth of the earth Until it heaves the last breath of day, And surrenders . . . Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:14:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977854094 Patricia F. 2009-10-15T02:14:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977761660 Sometimes the world slaps me happy. Gives me something back that I had almost forgotten- Henna bracelets, blankets on the grass, Tie dyed tent dresses that make me feel beautiful- At least in my own . . . Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:09:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977761660 Patricia F. 2009-08-04T03:09:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977725708 Vivian scooped the bread crumbs from the kitchen table into her palm and tossed them into the sink. Vivian's grandmother Ruby looked at Vivian and tsked, "Don't be scooping up while I'm still havin' . . . Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:00:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977725708 Patricia F. 2009-06-30T21:00:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717233  I keep having dreams about you, So close that I can smell your hair. And I am mad at you so many times, As I wrangle with my bruised feelings. Why didn't I ever feel like your prize, Even . . . Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:33:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717233 Patricia F. 2009-06-21T06:33:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977687078   Isn't it great to feel it? That sense that somebody gets you. It's nothing you can name. Only a sense that this being has looked inside you With an angel's glass, . . . Wed, 20 May 2009 03:41:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977687078 Patricia F. 2009-05-20T03:41:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977632647   I look for it. In the curl of gnarled hands, Kneading dough for the thousandth time, Perfect and smooth. In the smell of a baby's neck, Like apples breathing Small rhythmic . . . Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:29:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977632647 Patricia F. 2009-03-21T03:29:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977631474 The lake was frozen, covered knee deep in snow. As I slowed the car to a crawl, I looked out over all that whiteness, wishing that I lived in one of the cottages that line the edges of the lake. . . . Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:10:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977631474 Patricia F. 2009-03-20T04:10:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977604717   She sat on a stump at that busy intersection, Her toes crammed in to too pointy shoes, Her feet poised balancing the heft of her calves. Not pretty. Cars whizzed by too fast to notice . . . Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:24:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977604717 Patricia F. 2009-02-24T02:24:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977588056   "Roger?" Bea calls up the stairs, peering through her thick lenses at the light in the upstairs hall. "Where is that man? Our show's about to start." She tisks, . . . Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:58:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977588056 Patricia F. 2009-02-08T16:58:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977485130   The whispers from the psyche of a flower Tell petals they must kiss the close of day, And pale veined fingers mark the muted hour, When night will steal this day's bold heart . . . Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:06:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977485130 Patricia F. 2008-10-22T03:06:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977414572 I have taken a piece I wrote called, "A Wandering", and condensed it into a poem for a poetry Workshop that I have been taking at The Robert Frost homestead.   I do not consider myself . . . Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:03:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977414572 Patricia F. 2008-08-05T22:03:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977403818   I entered the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition in April, 2008. The winners were just announced in Key West , FLA. I placed with Honorable Mention with my short story, Sea Glass . . . Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:19:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977403818 Patricia F. 2008-07-22T13:19:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977402566 I set out today to the Robert Frost Farm, here in Derry, N.H .   Robert Frost lived in Derry from 1900-1911.           The house is a lovely little . . . Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:03:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977402566 Patricia F. 2008-07-21T03:03:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977401146   A Night in Waikiki This little piece is written in response to the Friday Writing Essentials writing prompt, 'Memories of Eating Out." I have few better memories than of this night...and . . . Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:46:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977401146 Patricia F. 2008-07-18T18:46:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977393835   "Table for two? "Uh, yeah. Anything on the porch?" Sam said, as he simultaneously eyed the raw bar with its glistening oysters on the half shell, nestled in shaved ice. The . . . Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:32:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977393835 Patricia F. 2008-07-09T19:32:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977381530     Your Mom makes you scrambled eggs And toast with strawberry jam, And feeds it to you in little bites, While she tells you how high the tomato plants are, And . . . Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:43:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977381530 Patricia F. 2008-06-24T19:43:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977381464     Pam's voice sounds far away and thin, like she can't quite get the breath to form the words. "There's no easy way to say this. It's Kenny. He has cancer. . . . Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:08:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977381464 Patricia F. 2008-06-24T18:08:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977359104 Every week day, around 3 o'clock or so, the big yellow school bus spit us all out at our stop on Depot Road. As the bus chugged away, we'd wave at our friends and stick our tongues out at our . . . Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:51:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977359104 Patricia F. 2008-06-01T23:51:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977359089   My son is home. And I am over that moon that people talk about. Because now I can call him and he will come galloping down the stairs and I can hug him and smell his hair for just that . . . Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:37:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977359089 Patricia F. 2008-06-01T23:37:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977349904 I park my car and rummage in my purse for my cell phone. "Why the hell don't I ever put anything BACK where it belongs ?" I sputter. "And how many friggin' receipts and dead lottery . . . Wed, 21 May 2008 02:24:24 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977349904 Patricia F. 2008-05-21T02:24:24Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337283   I had a dream. You were barefoot, Dancing with my Mom In the kitchen. In a red plaid shirt And baggy jeans. You smelled like pine trees And soap And air.   . . . Fri, 02 May 2008 20:35:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337283 Patricia F. 2008-05-02T20:35:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977324634 I am submitting this piece for the Tuesday Writing Essentials "Spotlight" piece. This is therapy for me, and I cherish all of you who re-read this posted here today....    . . . Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:10:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977324634 Patricia F. 2008-04-16T02:10:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977306308 I went a wandering today, Mr. Frost. On this first, almost warm, New Hampshire coming -of- spring day. My neck of the woods here- was yours- a couple of generations ago. But it's all mine, today. . . . Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:58:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977306308 Patricia F. 2008-04-10T02:58:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977304930 I submitted this story to the Seacoast Writers' Association 2008 Writers' Contest and won first prize in the essay division. I will be attempting to read this at the SWA Writers' Conference . . . Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:59:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977304930 Patricia F. 2008-04-08T15:59:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977292099 I am minding my own business.   Really. Just looking for a suitable bottle of red to douse the night.   I hear this voice and I can't tear myself away.   I stand there pretending . . . Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:18:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977292099 Patricia F. 2008-03-24T11:18:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977284434 Matt is six. I'm babysitting him tonight, trying to give you some time to yourself. A little time alone, so maybe you can just sit, get quiet, close your eyes, take in some really deep breaths. . . . Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:00:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977284434 Patricia F. 2008-03-14T18:00:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977279604   What is it that's so telling, maybe even tender... about shoes? I can't make this niggling feeling go away. Sometimes, things like this grab at me; whisper in my ear, tell me that they . . . Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:25:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977279604 Patricia F. 2008-03-09T06:25:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977271208   When I look up at that dirty little rectangular hole in the eaves of that awful rundown apartment building, I can still see you there. There in your kitchen. Nobody should have to stand there . . . Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:40:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977271208 Patricia F. 2008-02-28T22:40:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977266939 I pull into the parking lot. It's been raining buckets, all day, but the sun's finally coming out. The wet pavement shines. Scattered oil spots make rainbows, like bubbles popped all over the . . . Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:11:27 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977266939 Patricia F. 2008-02-24T18:11:27Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977261620   Evening at the Canyon. The tired sun hangs low, Washes mile high walls In a blur of pink and blue. Shines its bent light On our sad parade.   A sudden . . . Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:22:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977261620 Patricia F. 2008-02-18T21:22:20Z