DRY CRIK Journal

Wilma wrote her poems on whatever scraps of paper she happened to save and kept them in a shoebox. Now transcribed and open to the air, I share these with you - and to be considered by some future editor of Wilma’s collected poems. Anyone with similar unpublished pieces from Wilma is welcome to have them published here accompanied with notes, circumstances and source - email: dry_crik@yahoo.com

SOME DAY HE WOULD BE BETTER

How did he do that
even now I see him
lean and graceful
with his Cherokee nose

standing inside a circle of rope
he spun for himself
just for the sheer pleasure
or what was it

my six brothers
gifted in some other ways
could never spin a rope
do a single trick with it

But Gordon Deertrack seventeen
two farms north of us
could spin as well as papa
someday he would be better

and a star at every rodeo

Continue reading "WEM: 4 Poems" »

Posted by John Dofflemyer at 5:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dust Bowl Okie Poet, Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel passed away last night at the age of 88. “At the end, two loving staff at the rest home were reading some of her poems. When the last poem was read, they looked up and she had passed.” There will be a Rosary and Mass at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Tulare on Friday, April 20th, 10:00 a.m., burial at the Tulare District Cemetery.

ASKING FAVORS

Will one of you go
pretty please with
sugar on top
in my absence
a total stranger will do
salute the water tower
in my full name

Call out boldly
challenge that proud crow
who claims the grass
beneath it as its own
and I will be forever in
your gracious debt

Do rant and rave and
shake your fists at demon trucks
which shatter the quiet
of the Pancake House
As a further favor to me
let the iris blue of Sycamore Street
turn your head
as it turned mine years ago.

Above all things just anyone
walk the rose fence foursquare
around Tulare District Cemetery
if the sky is clear east
of St. John’s Church
yell my best regards to the Sierra

                                - WEM

Continue reading "Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel" »

Posted by John Dofflemyer at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)