for my cousin

Posted on February 3, 2016 by AM Roselli

each day her spirit leaps out
from the mirror
into your warm breast
she is there
ever present in those generous eyes of yours
her love of life and family
her passion for art and laughing
undeniable
there is no missing her presence
in your reflection
a smile so deeply connected
even death
cannot hold it captive
My spirited Aunt Lenore and her lovely daughter, Toni Anne pictured here in 1985
Toni Anne’s daughter’s wedding is fast approaching
Lenore would have been front, center and beaming with wedding preparations for her granddaughter, Victoria
Lenore passed away seven years ago after losing a brave battle to cancer

…for my beautiful cousin, Toni Anne who is missing her mom more than ever…

party on, Nina

Posted on January 26, 2016 by AM Roselli

those eyes still haunt me
huge echoing eyes
and that small painful smile
you had so many other smiles
why is it the small one I remember
and the effort you took to make it
just for me
if I focus, I can see the bright smiles
your black shining eyes, icing on the cake
back when you were healthy
before life decided what it wanted to do with you
as it will all of us
God, I miss you still
Glenn Miller helps
singing and swinging up there on a cloud of pasta
and chicken soup with tiny meatballs
party on, Nina
party on

My Charlie

Charlie was a great pink stuffed dog that Nina gave me many Christmases ago…

PEACE across the land and around the WORLD

Posted on January 18, 2016 by AM Roselli

Peace
Love
Light

chapter 3

Posted on January 4, 2016 by AM Roselli

chapter one
before
chapter two
after

before
I knew
after
I realized

I pray
I can write
chapter three

before my spine
becomes unglued

joy august ripsaw

let cling to our skin

Posted on December 18, 2015 by AM Roselli

they cling to the legs
Ignorance and Want
beneath rich velvet robes
two malnourished beings
present in Their suffering
we remain focused on our priorities
during this season of hope and love
wrap tenderly our hearts
with Their existence
let us go forth
in humble spirit
and grand charity

for Rocky
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
The Ghost of Christmas Present

winning and losing

Posted on December 16, 2015 by AM Roselli

there was a dual wrestling meet last night
all these boys, young men really
hoping their practiced discipline and best efforts
would place them on this side of glory
a raised arm at third period’s end
a personal win
points for their team

quick food, hot coffee and school spirit
we bought an event tee for the big son
I didn’t look at the shirt ’til later
against the black cotton weave
was the image of a handsome, young man
135 pounds
his chiseled arm raised in victory

it was then I realized
the tournament was named after this wrestler
he’d died in a car accident two years ago

and I knew
whether the big son
won or lost
we’d been winning all along

at this time of year
when the magnifying glass
boxes in our hearts
may thoughts of warmth
go out to those
whose children are no longer here
but live on in their souls

Baby Elf

illustration previously published

“Peace on Earth was all it said…”

Posted on November 15, 2015 by AM Roselli

STRIVE FOR PEACE ABOVE AND BELOW EVERY ROCK

fun little nutcrackers (I hope) created for art class project

the antithesis of wisdom

Posted on November 15, 2015 by AM Roselli

I don’t agree with Golding
I believe there is tremendous capacity for Good
innate human Kindness
though Survival is instinctual
education is the bedrock of Peace
Savagery is learned too
but it is the antithesis of wisdom
in William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, the wild boar’s head symbolizes the devil…
The big son is currently reading this novel in school though he’s read it many times before.
This head was made for a class project.
It’s constructed with a large styrofoam ball, a plastic cup, a partial cat mask, sponge pieces for filler, oodles of duct tape to hold all this crap together then covered in clay and painted…it was quite fun to art direct 😉

southpaw warrior

Posted on November 13, 2015 by AM Roselli

southpaw warrior
wielding a just sabre
for righteousness
unsheathed in sparking white
gaining action by wind arc
inked blood contract
philosophies demanded
upon lofty principles
enforced with pride
beliefs carved upon singular roads
will not lead
southpaw warrior
to peace

Who

warm queen of the night

Posted on November 12, 2015 by AM Roselli

to be a queen
of the night
is far better
than
to be a princess
by the day
to be happy
single
is far better
than
to be a mismatched
duo
to be warm
while living
is far better
than
to be cold
while–