Losing My Marbles
I roll the ball
back and forth
back and forth
in my palm
hypnotized by blue streaks
suspended inside the glass.
I once had a Mason jar full of marbles
green and gold cat eyes
aggies, sunbursts, swirls
black-eyed peas, dragonflies
I didn’t actually play marbles,
but my grandma had
in the dirt near her house
squatting down, the hem of her dress
dragging the ground
they drew circles back then
13 marbles in the center
each player with a shooter
hitting marbles—collecting them
whoever had the most at the end won
but I just hoarded marbles
admired them like jewels
could look at them for hours.
Wish I still had that jar
but it disappeared somewhere
over the years
back when I didn’t realize
how important things are
until they’re gone.
Under the Spell
drunk on salt water
and golden beads of sun
i’m lulled by gulls
the sound of surf on shore
diamonds glitter
on the tip of every crest
through wet lashes
i squint at sand-washed stones,
pearlescent beasts
that form a makeshift bay
and there she is—
hair trailing her bare back
a blue-green tail
scaled to fine perfection
disbelieving
i blink—then blink again
the stone is bare
wiped clean of my mirage
Dust on Her Blue Cadillac
blue whale streaking through the desert
tires humming hot against the asphalt
radio volumed up to 1984
no A/C for this ranch-hand girl
long, brown curls a mess of tumbleweeds
she sings offkey, the star of her own band
nearing town, she slows the engine,
shouts howdy to slick-backed city folks
who are dripping like ice cream in the sun
she admires her blurred reflection
in plate-glass windows, a sheen of dust
sticking to the ribs of her blue Cadillac.
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About the Author
Arvilla Fee lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband, three of her five children, and two dogs. She teaches for Clark State College, is the lead poetry editor for October Hill Magazine, and has been published in over 100 magazines. Her three poetry books, The Human Side, This is Life, and Mosaic: A Million Little Pieces are available on Amazon. Arvilla’s life advice: Never travel without snacks. Visit her website and her new magazine: https://soulpoetry7.com/
