May 9, 2017

Three Poems by Lois Greene Stone: "Ribbons and Spools", "Pants Suit", and "Phi Beta Kappa: 14K Standard"

Lois Greene Stone, writer and poet, has been syndicated worldwide. Poetry and personal essays have been included in hard & softcover book anthologies. Collections of her personal items/ photos/ memorabilia are in major museums including twelve different divisions of The Smithsonian.







Ribbons and Spools

Rubber platen rolled.
Keys often stuck.
Fingers turned
red and black
when ribbon
spools were
inserted. Ding.
I shifted a line.
Oops. Forgot
to notice I’d
typed too far
down the page.
A relic. My young
days went through
the passageway as
newer technology
was created.

No ding, platen,
ribbon, nor
margins to
constantly
observe. How
might I kiss the
inventor of my
first PC with its
9-pin dot matrix
machine?
Run-off pages,
I commanded
the computer
as it figuratively
laughed: the printer’s
out of ink.


Pants Suit

Why did Betty Friedan upset me
with her “Feminine Mystique”
when I actually enjoyed playing
multiple roles and my spouse’s
was static? Politics and power
proved synonymous as the
phrase ‘glass ceiling’ was
coined. Where was feminine?
Could I trace a line where it
was and when it ended?
Business suits replaced flirty
dresses, and strong suggested
macho; females forgot assertive
and forged aggressive to be
taken seriously as leaders.
A labyrinth, unlike Daedalus’
maze, seemed to lead to nowhere.
I flinched, a reflex, when women
insisted our country’s leader
must be female. I’d rather
vote for a person, either
sex, who is capable and
passionate about the
enormous task.



Phi Beta Kappa: 14K Standard

A small shiny rectangle
made of gold
wasn't just a charm
dangling from a link
chain. Touching a
woman's neck, jewelry
on a man's vest, its
Greek letters
quietly signified
academic achievement
and gave the wearer
self-esteem. Currently
confidence and originality
for a select group comes
from slivers of gold
piercing body parts.

(©1999 Bibliophile Pub. Co.)

© Lois Greene Stone

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