Replay, draft no. 4

                                                                                                                     10/16/2025

For Alden and Claire, by Mom/Jen Hunt

 

Oh! for all the goodies you brought on the plane

And the days devoid of forecast rain

Botanical Gardens and Schmeeckle trail turns

Squeezing every birth- and holiday into a wee-sized interim

The hibachi flames and apple peels

Shrinking shows; Pride ‘n’  Prejudice reels

Watching past teachers at the Forst Inn whodunnit

Playing Bird Bingo (though we won’t say who won it)

Beach walks at Neshota, the Birds in Art culture

The Stevens Point tour, and the curd lunch at Culvers,

On all that was good may our hearts long rehearse--

Save the part where Sophia* would jolt on reverse.

 

 

*Sophia being the name for my newly purchased Subaru Outback ’24. 

For the One I Love, on Our 33rd Anniversary, draft no. 1

For leaving your last roll

So we could end tied

For eating all sweets

Except those I hide

For having big dreams

To sail the world wide

I'm eternally grateful

To be thirty-three years your bride. 

Love, 

Your wife, 

Jennn

For Niece Emily, on her 12th Birthday, draft no. 1

For getting 10th place

In the dance competition

For learning one ski

Like a girl on a mission

For traipsing the country

This way and that

For studying wars

And stretching your calves

For all of these quirks

And a thousand quirks more

You are the fabulous

Niece we adore. 

Love, 

Aunty Jennn

For Nephew Jacob, on His UnBirthday, draft no. 1

 For preferring your eggs

without pepper spots

for hanging with folks

when you'd rather not

for taking to water

like a fish in a loch

for masterful placement

of red and blue tchotchke

for giggles of protest

when it's past time for bed

for melting all hearts

with your vermillion head

there's no other nephew

that we'd want instead. 

Love, 

Aunty Jennn

For Brother-in-law Chris, draft no. 1

 He drills holes for flags

Carries grocery bags

Works like a pack mule

Maintains boat fuel

He's steady and calm

Cleans bricks like the bomb

Navigates home repairs

Never tries to put on airs

A kinder host there's never been

Hooray for Chris Watts (and his kin). 

857 miles, draft no. 2

by Jen Hunt

I'm not a detail person

or so I like to say

my memory will, at times,

tiptoe--or sprint-- away

But, boy, do I remember 

the 857 miles we drove in one day 

when my brother 

disinvited us to his sixtieth birthday

and we had nowhere else to stay

I'm not a detail person, 

Or so I like to say,

But when it comes to tracking wrongs

my mind's as clear as day. 

4/20/25 Sunrise service Easter morning, draft no. 2

The heavens a chandelier crystal swaying just above my head

The play room is now

Art gallery, prayer loft, tomb, and bed--

I find the porch 

in bathrobe and peony pajamas

and await the sunrise-- 

"He is risen" I write on the slate

The week is bright;

I shall wear white--

The church bells ring and gong

The swallows are in on the song

The air is thin--

Pink clouds reflect on the window pane

Jesus is finally out of trouble

I blow bubbles--