Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Boston Review of the Arts, Kalliope, Mudfish, Spectrum, and Word Thursdays.
Four of her books have been published by literary presses. She has
performed at the National Arts Club, State University of New York,
Oneonta, McNay Art Institute, and other distinguished venues. A recent
reading was sponsored by the American Academy of Poetry. Her latest
title is Having Lunch With the Sky, APD Press, Albany, NY. Her poem Shhhhh … appeared here as part of Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits. She writes in upstate New York.
Have you ever looked in vain for the perfect gift for someone? Maybe
circumstances somehow prevented you from giving someone the very thing
they should have? Today we admire Joan’s poem and we honor all who
celebrate a November birthday! May the gifts you give and receive be
perfect in every way.
Birthday Present
By Joan McNerney
I wanted to bring back the
best gift from the country
for you, just for you.
I wanted to.
Some sky would be nice,
lots of lovely sky with
light fleecy clouds.
So I rushed through
stores and bought the
biggest shiny box and
looked for a perfect bow.
All shades of blue, violet
with red and yellow.
An entire spectrum of
colored ribbons for the
box to put this sky into.
Then on the bus my bow
fell apart. Somebody
stepped on the box. It’s
all crushed and dirty.
By the time we got to
the city it was late. Did
my sky blow away?
The box is empty now.
I wanted to bring back the
best gift from the country
for you, just for you.
I wanted to.
I love the refrain and delicious sound of this one. It reminds me of music, or a children’s book — and I mean that as a compliment.
This poem brought me to tears; so many times we try to do just the right thing…
Deceptively simple. Brilliant ending: same words, subtle change of tone expanding the meaning.