Jeannine Gerkman, Author of Children's books, Poet, reviews delightful picture books
Supplements supplementing my soul
Strengthening purpose pouring soothing comfort
Lungs fill up with air, creating space
Words fill up the page, opening insight
Cleaving my psyche wide open
Plucking gems mid-air
And dropping them gently
With every exhale
He was supposed to come at eight
But … he’s late
Wonder what excuse it will be this time
Broken van? Bad directions? Illness all of a sudden?
Now off to Metzger’s to buy himself a hacksaw
Really it’s the last straw
Yesterday his tape measure broke
(Only 20 years old)
If I should be so bold
To say, he did a wonderful job
The lifts carry precious cargo
Up and down
This beautiful home
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!
You’ve heard all about my picture book “Spring”, maybe even read and/or purchased it. Would you like to know about my NEXT book???? Two picture books in the works:
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It’s been a long time
Since the words were first penned
The promises spoken
Of life without end
But the assurances are true
Because God cannot lie
A beautiful future
For you and I
He spoke of a paradise
An oasis of peace
A healing for mankind
When wars will cease
We pray for it daily
On bended knee
For pain to be gone
And lame ones free
To romp again in meadows
And forests without fear
Welcome back our dear loved ones
Wipe away every tear
Threads of experience
Interconnected slivers
Glide and ripple
Along life’s rivers
Faith in my loving Creator
Hope profoundly deep
Dedication at thirteen
A promise I strive to keep
Peaks and valleys
Punctuated with golds
Triumphs and disappointments
Layered, as life unfolds
Family ties vary greatly
Some tenacious, some not so strong
With those with whom we marry
To those to whom we belong
Stepdads and moms
Brothers, sisters, nieces
Merging together gamely
But then torn to pieces
Human relations
Consistently ranging
Ruptured then mended
Invariably messy, ever changing
Dark emotion buried
Stiffly knotted, tied ever so tight
Deep blue in the warp string
Holding on with all its might
Bible study sessions
Foreign language lessons
Gorgeous shoe obsessions
Too many possessions
Lasagna making
Chicken baking
Classes taking
Ground breaking
Built our house
Hubby and me
Horizontal siding
Purple salvia, green tree
Stay up too late
Sleep less than ideal
Please don’t berate
How unraveled I feel
Body image is freckly pale
Thick, thin, then thicker still
Volume undulating like ocean waves
Tides rising against my will
Teaching, learning
Reaching, yearning
Sliver strands brush dishwater blond
Wrinkles, crinkles, not so fond
Mostly busy
Doing two things at once
Health is slipping
Not so much bounce
Some threads are sad and sickly
Others richly full
Some parts exciting
Others exceedingly dull
Colors vivid
Colors dark
Sometimes faded
Yet has that spark
Check out: “Storytime with Author Jeannine Gerkman” https://sanmateopublic.libcal.com/event/9119575 I’ll be reading my book “Spring” to the little ones May 13, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bubble Room at the Children’s Section of the Main Library.
The lampshade had been expensive
Carefully chosen to fit the décor
Now it lies bent and bruised on the carpet
Baseball gently settles under the couch
Home run
Mother will need convincing
Book Sale and Signing for National Poetry Month Celebration
Friday, April 8, 2022
Main Library, Oak Room
4:30 PM
I’ll be reading some of my poems and selling my book, Spring, coming up April 8, 2022.
Please join us for a book sale and signing before the National Poetry Month Celebration. Books by the featured poets will be available starting at 4:30pm on April 8th.
Featured Poets: San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto, Terry Adams, Sharon Coleman, Joe Cottonwood, Hilary Cruz, Paul Fericano, Jeannine Gerkman, San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Caroline Goodwin, Jasmeen Karan, Belmont Poet Laureate Monica Korde, Kevin Madrigal, Diane Lee Moomey, Tony Press, Belmont Poet Laureate Emerita Jacki Rigoni & San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Lisa Rosenberg.
TULIPS
Oceans of petals gently lap manicured lawns. Nodding and dancing to an unseen conductor.
Plump blossoms ripple and dip. Deep purple, red and white stripe, foamy pink, blinding yellow, rich tangerine, shy crimson and pearly white.
Soft sunlight catches their opalescence as they shimmer and sway.
Some in pots, some in beds. All waving merrily. Stretching to the sky.
The click of a hummingbird
Defending his space
Click of my tongue
When I examine my face
Click of the door latch
As the wind blows through
Click of the clock
It’s a quarter to two
Crick in my neck
When staring at the skies
Click in my hip
As I rearrange my thighs
Click in my pen
As I write all this down
Click of my teeth
As a grin halts a frown
(inspired by DeBussy’s Clair)
South of France
Windswept coastline
Tiny village
Lovers rushing
On cobblestone streets
Hurrying to meet
Sore feet, tired ankles
Sandals catching on pavement
Arms akimbo, breathless
Sweet embrace
Love enfolded
Heartbeats steadied
Sunlight ripples off the sea
Winking happiness
As they sigh
jeanninegerkman 