She might have painted the sea—
or a golden field of wheat
beneath a hazy summer sky—
but he took her brushes,
left the bristles splayed,
the paints dried out,
and the turpentine cloudy.
And though she said nothing,
her easel disappeared one day
like a wispy cloud no one missed.
After that,
she painted nothing but dinner.
They had imagined themselves
sharing a studio but
he needed all the mirrors,
so she became one—
reflecting his genius,
and tilting her angles
to catch his best light—
sitting quiet in the corners,
while her palette faded slowly
beneath his brilliance.
She never called it giving up—
just life, unfolding.
Maybe she took comfort
in recipes, in the hush
of rising dough,
in setting the table just so.
But I wonder if sometimes,
she’d pass the studio
and something nameless would
tighten in her throat—
not quite regret,
not quite peace.
Perhaps both.
Categories:
loretta, art, devotion, family, father,
Form: Free verse
Loretta Jane Swit
always possessed of great wit
wasn’t content slinging hash
and became head nurse in MASH
Categories:
loretta, tribute,
Form: Clerihew
Loretta Devil
Loretta Devil
She thinks she's queen of the hill
When she's hitting that herb at will
The smack of her lips, the glaze in her stare
All the people beware
She's like a star with no skill
Watch out for Loretta Devil
At first you think she's deranged
But then you smell that skunk on the range
And realize her eyes are so red
Nothing makes since in the things that she said
She thinks her singing is surreal
But it's nothing but shrill
She's having the time of her life
Dancing with her pink pinguins all high
She was a wholesome lady
Until she got on that green lady
Poor Loretta
Loretta Devil
Categories:
loretta, age, crazy, funny, health,
Form: Lyric
Loretta was wearing a bikini with polka dots that dazzled.
We were loving her attitude, it was wild, sweet and razzled.
Many were fearful for she had more confident than most.
I liked her a lot when I realized she was my henhouse host.
She played Beach boy’s music, and you know it’s always right.
She was dancing with joyful steps, all the day into the night.
She is really something said the rooster who lived next door.
I knew it was because of the teensy bikini that she wore.
Categories:
loretta, animal,
Form: Rhyme
Loretta Lee can entertain herself better than most people I see
I check on old people who live in suburbs of Knoxville, Tennessee.
some are sad and lonely, harpy, yelling “poor me, woe is me.”
this has never been the case with the resilient and lovely Loretta Lee.
she has hobbies, interests, ideas, and projects most never will see.
making things with yarns, felt, ribbon, lace, painting stuff with glee.
projects that will take her from here to two thousand thirty-three.
she is teaching me to entertain myself and doing it for free.
the active, always-playing Loretta Lee has never worried me.
I stick her on my aged wellness check route quite regularly.
she shows me how to knit, crochet, tat, sew, and hug up a tree.
a hippie from the old south, my favorite old woman, Loretta Lee.
Categories:
loretta, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Monorhyme
A train crashed into the night
people watched under closed eyelids.
I made coffee like I always do.
I sat down to drink it like I usually do.
Have I really ever clearly seen anything?
Did you ever grow a mustache
thick and tough enough to singalong?
Coal miners are drinking
the last rays of a sooty sun.
Mind wanders,
but her voice was always rooted
in a song strong enough
to be hard baked in any earth oven.
I might find a way out
of whatever funk I’m in,
or stagger through
the way country singers do.
Happy trails darlin.
Categories:
loretta, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Where are you sister?
Ground chews sweet leaves
Wind fans fall tree particles.
Sufis whip up Lily air.
I know the Loves are always.
Categories:
loretta, earth, farewell, seasons,
Form: Free verse
cover me, loretta
let me feel your skin react
let me feel your soul consume me like the feeling of warm soup on a cold sunday
cover me, loretta
enliven me with the unique warmth of your buttocks
let me feel the creative climate of your bosoms take me away to enchanted waves of paradise
cover me, loretta
humor me please with the ease of your charming wit
broaden the slightly ajar door of my mind again with your multifarious definitions of life's ticklish whirlpool as you know it
Categories:
loretta, beautiful, black african american,
Form: Free verse
Loretta Lockhorn Kisses the Floor
By Elton Camp
Leroy’s drinking his wife does hurt
Likewise, how he chases every skirt
His earning power isn’t very great
A fact that Loretta often does berate
And it comes as no surprise
Her cooking he does criticize
At shopping she’s no expert
The family budget does hurt
One day she fainted dead away
Because of what leroy did say
He, puzzled, scratched his head
“I was wrong” is all that I said
Categories:
loretta, funny,
Form: Rhyme
Hey Hey Loretta what do you say
When nobody cares if your heart matters
A princess with clothing in tatters
From Nelson to these tree-lined streets
Where all the artsy business types meet
Hey Hey Hey Hey Just go away
Tired for your voice everyday
Tired of how you wouldn't have it any other way
So goodbye now and have a good day
I will if you just go away
Categories:
loretta,
Form: Ballad