Janet Richards
About the author
Janet Richards is a poet & journalist living in the Bay of Quinte area of Ontario, Canada.
She shares her home with her husband, three daughters, & a changeable number of pets.
Janet’s poetry has been published in the anthologies “Brother, My Cup” & “Eyes of the Poet”. She is also a member of the Canada Cuba Literary Alliance. Her first poetry collection “Glass Skin” (Hidden Brook Press, 2008) will be launched May 11, 2008.
Camera Shake
[The Shooter’s Blues]
shutter shudder click
one aboriginal activist released from jail
two house fires: no injuries
three mayors
click shutter shudder
four architectural features
five head shots
six Scottish dancers
shudder shutter click
seven wall of fame inductees
eight amusements at the exhibition
nine child smiles
ten accidents passed plainclothes
without camera
there is always the pretense
it never really happened
Becoming acquainted with Laura
Laura tells me she used to wear clothes
four sizes too big.
She wanted to be invisible.
She had children early while friends were educated,
her husband passed away.
Tonight, velvet green with dark red
and gold drapes her slight frame;
animated, she captivates the crowd
with a trip through who she wants to be.
Doug whispers secrets in my ear,
about an accident, how she had to learn
to read and speak again.
After, as she listens, she slips bare feet from black sandals.
Her toenails are painted red.
