Oakwood Comic Book Program - Oakwood Healthcare System

Harmonic Palettes
Joy Gaines-Friedler
Streetlights –
the stop and go.
The way they mark time.
The way the long school bus,
those yellow mornings
filled with so much
conversation, crossed
the familiar bridge
over wet lands where
sun harmonized
with blackbirds
and the scratch laugh
of herons. A strange
two-bar glitch.
Michael Marcus
Leaving
Beverly J. Emery
The Magic City
I already miss Salty, with his great handshake, peppering us with the same silly anecdotes season after
season. A smile crosses my lips as I think of Mr. Pennie waddling around town every day in that old tuxedo
he found behind the wedding chapel. I envision the mayor, Mr. Burger, wearing that cheesy looking yellow hat
draped down over his right eye. We all thought he was crazy putting up an orchid streetlight but it perfectly
matched the huge purple pinwheel that generates warmth when the sun does down. I remember when
wealthy Mr. Nugget died, leaving Goldie and all those kids he referred to as his “precious golden coins.”
I almost laugh out loud at the memory of the celebration when the “Bridge to Where” was completed. The
“Triangular Music Notes” band played until the predawn hours. Chess Greene and Miss Scarlet, the town’s
“drama queen”, danced and toasted long into the night. After too many Margaritas, Sunnie, the white haired
beautician in an elegant blue brocade gown, just folded on the ground like a huge blue blob.
Later, those untamable
rhythms. Late nights
at The Clock Restaurant
with my best friend –
me the willing driver,
she the seamstress
making my party pants,
loaning me
her rhinestones.
We were so full
of night then,
smoke in our hair,
ordering eggs
and cherry pie,
not wanting to go home.
That was how it was.
Years later, after
I lost her, I clung
to those musical nights
like the king clings
to the accord,
the steady pattern
of his chess board.
How can I leave them all behind? How does anyone just let go and move on?
Okay, Alice. JUMP!
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