Amy Dengler will be participating in the Salem Writers launch of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival, from Oct. 15-18. See their website, http://www.eventbrite.com/event, for more information about specific times.
Amy has been a member of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society for many years. A resident of Gloucester, she has won many awards through the years. She has read at the North Shore Poets’ Forum National Poetry Month celebration in April many times, and I have personally had the pleasure of participating in the same Round Robin with Amy through the years.
Her book, “Between Leap and Landing,” states that she grew up in Rochester, New York, and at the age of 7 had decided she would do three things: work for a newspaper, be an airline flight attendant, and write a book. She has done all three. We hope she keeps writing her wonderful poems and shares them with us.
(More will be added as I find time to type them … )
Watering the Lavender at Sunset
by Amy Dengler
This could be Provence:
lush purple spilling over the front steps
bees stunned by the fragrance
a seabreeze stirring the black-eyed Susans.
The harbor this afternoon was bobbing with vessels.
We bought fish and fixed supper in the yard,
the tablecloth luffing up
before we moored it with silver and plates.
When the sky opened we stayed put, watched
the haddock swim again on the platter
the wineglasses fill with rain
the candles sputter out.
Lavender anchors me here,
so too a freshening breeze,
slack lines singing in the boatyards.
Tomorrow, all the ceremonies will be the same:
first light, cast off, mug-up,
saltwater lapping enameld bulk, seamusic
as essential as air.
North Shore Poets' Forum 
Good Morning, Cathy, thank you for the honor of posting my poem/s. I took time this AM to read your blog and enjoyed the comments from others like Roberta and Jack. Your daily news is so interesting, so full of ordinary moments which is what I love to celebrate in my poetry. “Watering the Lavender” took me back to that steamy summer evening when friends came for dinner in the yard. It started raining and it felt so refreshing we all just sat there and laughed, covering our glasses so the wine didn’t get too watery. This summer has finally gotten hot enough. I’m dealing with health issues and so I’m always cold. Finally August is fulfilling its promise to be summery. But yes, the humidity has its unbearable moments. I will tune in regularly to the blog. I’m a little envious of your editorial job as it keeps you writing constantly and what you have to say is interesting, timely and universal. Thanks for being there, Cathy. Amy
Amy Dengler’s poems are always a pleasure to read. Whether she’s writing about a road trip or fixing dinner, she captures the moment in language that is precise, original and sensuous. If I could live my daily life with half her exquisite awareness, I would count myself blessed. Thank you for showcasing her poems.
I’ve read Amy’s poems over a few years. She is a wonderful poet. A strong poet with an extremely tender streak. Whenever I read her poems I wish I could write like her.