SPLENDOR
An evening snow
of tiny glitter seems of
no real consequence.
Yet it’s all it takes
to blanket lawn, coat tree, and
hush and light the night –
its quiet splendor
reflecting the still, small voice
that sang its being.
© Marie Elena Good, 2025
Teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to Possible U.S. (United States) Citizens
We are too different to unite.
I will never be convinced
Integration is possible.
I see
Insurmountable hurdles.
Listen: Don’t be fooled into thinking these are
U.S. citizens in the making
© Marie Elena Good 2025
A reverse poem. Now read from the bottom line to the top.
Return of the Proverbial … Well, You Know …
It’s just a strainer/drain stopper for my kitchen sink. My Amazon cart fills with various designs, while my kitchen drain plugs up again and again and again. Don’t even ask me how much money I’ve wasted in total, as I don’t even bother to return them.
My drain plugs, cart fills,
and garage houses many
just in case models.
Meanwhile…
More than five decades
ago, man went to the moon
and safely returned.
© Marie Elena Good 2024
The photo is my newest drain stopper, with a strainer beneath it. I think this one might actually work! Ha!
Of Humble Means (Sonnet to The Newborn King)
Expectant couple travels far and fierce.
She, full with child, atop a gentle ass.
He, worried as her sighs begin to pierce,
And finding there’s no room in inns they pass.
He, with no proper room to birth her child,
Secures a proffered stable to take rest.
The Babe comes quickly, there amidst the wild.
He frees her Son, and lays Him at her breast.
The Newborn listens to the bleating sheep.
The feeding trough He lies in smells of hay.
His weary mother tries to get some sleep,
Through rolling sounds of cry and bleat and bray.
Great throngs of angels revel in this day –
In lowly trough, there lies The Truth. The Way.
© Marie Elena Good, 2017
Perusing Currier and Ives
I scroll images, pausing at those singing nostalgia to me. Pausing at the ones representing a simple splendor that’s long passed. Pausing to get lost in the films they spark in my mind’s eye. Pausing to play in the snow. Pausing to gaze into scenes of serenity and similarity. Pausing simply to
pause.
And, perhaps,
this is precisely the point.
© Marie Elena Good, 2024
Our Christmas Tree, 2024
My December Song, with Apologies to Sammy Cahn
Though the weather outside is frightful,
from my window, it’s delightful.
While sipping my steaming tea,
turn the thermostat up one degree.
While my husband clears off our driveway
on this high of only 5 day,
my kitchen’s warm sugar scent
made me weak – I confess! I repent!
When he finally comes inside,
gets a whiff of the goodies I made,
sees the guilt that I just can’t hide –
think he’d believe they’re mislaid?
Oh the weather outside’s now icing,
and our flannels’ so enticing.
Keith joins me for one last tea;
turns the thermostat down one degree.
While we gaze at our Christmas tree,
we hear winds howling outside our door.
Nestling close while we sip Chablis,
I feel the draft on our floor.
Though the temperature’s turning bitter,
here inside, the tree’s a-glitter,
and the fireplace is aglow.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Turns the thermostat up …
© Marie Elena Good 2024
Photo by Ahmed akacha: https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-holding-his-daughter-on-a-campsite-19263993/
When I come home,
I lock my door.
When you arrive,
I’m committed to open my door
and unlock my heart.
© Marie Elena Good 2024
Bring Something to Share (Sing along!)
Disclaimer: Just for fun. Not my family.😉 )
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
All our hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Two party lines
Most with hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Many hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Many hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Some with hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Some with hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And still hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Fewer hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And some hearts wondering, why are we here?
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Ten football rivals
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And more hearts wondering, why are we here?
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Eleven players playing
Ten football rivals
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And the kids’ hearts all glad to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Twelve-midnight snacking
Eleven players playing
Ten football rivals
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
By next year, we’ll be glad to be here.
© Marie Elena Good, 2024
Us
We were all so close, growing up. And not that we didn’t remain so, but, you know, life. But now, we’ve made one another a priority. We have monthly lunches, and in-between coffees that last three hours and feed our souls. We laugh. Reminisce. Talk current events. Encourage one another. Speak truth in love as needed. Share one another’s lives. Fill gaps.
binding, fastening,
gathering, interfacing,
adhering, pinking
© Marie Elena Good, 2024
She entered my class
in purple, with her purple
phone, and purple coat.
Obviously, this
is her favorite color,
and it becomes her.
She is tall, and has
an elegance about her,
along with a wit.
But the shimmering
gold of her heart was revealed
when she used her phone’s
translator app to
say, “Teacher, if I could, I’d
give you my own eyes.”
I’m not sure what the
color of humbleness is,
nor of gratitude,
but I imagine
the shades of them reflected
in my complexion.
© Marie Elena Good 2024
This is true. Last Thursday, this lovely refugee soul entered my class, an absolute vision in purple. Due to recent surgery from a retina tear and detachment, as well as detached macula, I cannot see from my right eye. She hugged me, and then used her translator app to speak this most sincere, generous sentiment. I couldn’t hold back tears. Amazing heart.
pictured words 