Belle Rêve Literary Journal
  • Home
  • Read
  • Editor
  • Archives

Heirs and Graces

7/5/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Poem by Jane Blanchard
Artwork by Clinton Van Inman


At last, both sons agree to bring
     girls home for us to meet:
it’s supper only, but for all
     that counts as quite a feat.
 
One couple shows up right on time.
     Dad offers drinks, while I
continue cooking—chicken, rice,
     beans, nothing new to try.
 
First son begins to quaff a beer;
     his dear sips hers for play;
then second son and hon arrive;
     they opt for Cabernet.
 
Since kitchen opens up to den,
     I can participate
in conversation that occurs
     or doesn’t with each date.
 
One girl is majoring in math
     and seems a sports fanatic;
the other leans toward English, French,
     or something more dramatic.
 
Once food is served and blessed, all talk
     turns merely minimal,
yet manners dare to speak with signs
     a bit subliminal.
 
Dessert then proves a challenge since
     the girls are on a diet;
cheesecake is out for both of them,
     but not for those who try it.
 
The table cleared, I must insist
     that dishes can just wait
while Dad and I still try to woo
     each son’s potential mate.
 
However, there is not much left
     to say or do this eve,
so soon, with thanks, each son departs
     with whom he hopes to cleave. 
​

Jane Blanchard lives and writes in Georgia.  Her poetry has appeared previously in Belle Rêve and recently in Lighten Up Online, Smoky Blue, and U.S.1 Worksheets.  Her chapbook Unloosed is available from White Violet Press of Kelsay Books.

Clinton Van Inman grew up in North Carolina, graduated from San Diego State University in 1977, taught in South Carolina and is currently a high school teacher in Tampa Bay where he lives in Sun City Center, Florida with his wife, Elba. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About Us

    Belle Rêve Literary Journal is a southern literary experience. Our mission is to capture everything that makes the South and its residents unique through the best contemporary literature we can find. We publish new works weekly.

    Tweets by @BelleReveLit

    Archives

    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Children
    Essay
    Fiction
    Non Fiction
    Non-fiction
    Poetry

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Listed on New Pages and Poets & Writers.
    Passionately Ran, Compassionately Fed.
Powered by
  • Home
  • Read
  • Editor
  • Archives
✕