July 2024
Steve Williams
hiramcatfish@gmail.com
hiramcatfish@gmail.com
Bio Note: Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Michigan State University, I am deeply enjoying the daily writing of at least one new poem as part of the William Stafford Challenge which began on January 17, 2024. It has the community feel of V-V with a private YouTube site where we can share our poetry with other poets who have joined the Challenge, and, as part of this endeavor, five of us meet weekly in a Writer’s Group Zoom to share and critique one new poem submitted from each of us. Already new friendships have emerged as we work at polishing our craft, with seven months still to go. Like V-V, what a blessing!
Ashtray
On a white marble table, in a smoke-free room,
pristine notches gleam—a cobalt dish sits
innocently, no longer used for storing ashes,
or gently holding plumes. No remains of lovely
whinny, no impatient clack of hooves, no hint
of pleasures taken, no trace of broken dreams—
just reminder of a simpler time, when bold men
wrangled horses and tobacco smoke was fine.
©2024 Steve Williams
Editor's Note: If this poem(s) moves you please consider writing to the author (email address above) to say what it is about the poem you like. Writing to the author is what builds the community at Verse Virtual. It is very important. -JL