Iris Terzanelle When I got the call, I broke down and cried Tears pouring steadily from the well of grief News that my grandmother Iris had died. In that precise moment, death was a thief Stealing her breath so it could take her Tears pouring steadily from the well of grief Attending meetings, she was a Quaker. At one hundred and four death was release Stealing her breath so it could take her I hope in passing she found true peace And that her spirit could go to the light At one hundred and four death was release My cousin was with her to witness the sight Opening the window and in the sun shone So that her spirit might go to the light Soon after family made calls on the phone. When I got the call, I broke down and cried. I opened a window and in the sun shone. News that my grandmother Iris had died.
Jennifer Dotson’s second poetry collection, Late Night Talk Show Fantasy & Other Poems, was recently published by Kelsay Books (July 2020). Clever Gretel, her debut collection, earned the 1st Journal of Modern Poetry Book Award and was published by Chicago Poetry Press in 2013. Jennifer is also the founder and program coordinator for www.highlandparkpoetry.org.
Grand Little Things 