Loughcrew Passage by Elaine Reardon

Broken passage tombs,

scattered relics beneath.

Old bones and altars hold

the strength of Danu.

Carved inscriptions 

endure in grey stone.

Feel cool air move past

your calves to carry you 

to where soft light radiates

from large carved stones.

Did you ever think you'd

stand in the in-between, with

green mist to light your way

to the furthest altar, to find 

what is left there for you?

Reach out to what you cannot see.

Hear the ancient ones. What do they

whisper to you before you rise?

Elaine is a poet, herbalist, educator. A new chapbook, Look Behind You, will be published by Flutter Press this fall. Her chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery For Hope, won first honors from Flutter Press in 2016. Most recently Elaine’s poetry and essays have been published by Crossways Journal, UCLA journal, Automatic Pilot, Sleep-ZZZ Journal,  and similar journals. elainereardon.wordpress.com.

March Madness by Elaine Reardon

Sometimes early spring splatters violets

other times a resurrection of winter

impassable mud-thick roads

birds whistle and beg

any useful thing to build nests

Maples have buckets hanging

when sap runs fast

churches flip pancakes

for mud season breakfasts

deer reach into the front garden

to graze on dry brown grass 

hidden for months beneath ice

dark clouds heap high

another nor’easter,

dumping a foot of snow, 

breaking tree limbs

downing electric lines

closing back roads

we sit to watch the shimmering

aftermath when soft winds push

snow from the white pines

Elaine Reardon is a poet, herbalist, and educator. Her chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery For Hope was published by Flutter Press in 2016. She’s recently been awarded the Beal Poetry third place prize(11/18), was shortlisted at the Hammond House Poetry contest in December, as well as the Writer’s Digest Poetry Contest. She has a website at elainereardon.wordpress.com

The Banshee by Elaine Reardon

Wait for the banshee 

to commence wailing

notice her compatriots 

at the river's edge 

Washer women prepare

to wash the funeral

garments in the waters

loosening mortal ties 

knotted through many years.

Tears tumble down faces 

words are murmured, 

tea and spirits are poured.

No one speaks of the banshee 

The Banshee raises her arm

calls the departing one 

to her side   enfolds 

him into her embrace. 

Elaine Reardon is a poet, herbalist, educator, and member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. Her chapbook  The Heart is a Nursery For Hope was published by Flutter Press. Most recently Elaine’s poetry has been published by Crossways Journal, UCLA Journal, Automatic Pilot, Nicht.com, and MA Poet of the Moment. You can find her at elainereardon.wordpress.com 

Two Poems by Elaine Reardon

Buddy Dwyer's Cake

Buddy Dwyer made a cake.
He cut one slice, and
sent me back 30 years.
First I thought about
Auntie Lil's cakes,
my mom's, then mine.
We baked cakes thoughtfully,
considered how we'd frost them—
cooked or buttercream.

When a cake was special,
we added walnuts.
I listened to how Uncle Paul
made my parent's
wedding cake
how my parents saved me
a slice of that cake in a shoebox,
in their attic room.
Mice ate it  before I was born.
I wonder if the mice dreamt of their future,
as I was supposed to do.

I was born careless,
and dreamed too much.
Buddy's cake was like
the best part of childhood.
In winter it tasted of summer,
pineapples, black walnuts, and coconut.
White frosting floated over the top like clouds.

He gave me a big slice to take home.





Meeting Epona

Jess called at supper time
The wood stove crackled heat
from cherry wood and birch
supper was a minute from ready

Jess said he was weaker
wanted me to help him try
alchemical silver injections
I wondered what  alchemical
injections were and we talked

No, but I'll help you
it may be to heal
it may be to pass
easier--Let me sit with it a while

I filled my plate at the stove
 and placed it on the table
The room shifted
and breathed differently
a whoosh of energy
swept into the room
and then into me
I asked—Who

Epona filled me
so I began to sing
I sang out for Jed
on key and strong,
I sang for the whole
length of dirt road
steady and strong
I sang for every being
I could think of
I sang for Jess again
one last time






Elaine Reardon is a poet, herbalist, and educator. Her chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery For Hope, was published September 2016. Most recently, Elaine’s poetry has been published by stanzaicstylings.com ezine, Three Drops from a Cauldron Journal, Mused, MASS Poet of the Moment, and poetrysuperhighway.com.  Elaine lives in the forest in Western Massachusetts. She maintains a blog at elainereardon.wordpress.com.

The Heart is a Nursery for Hope by Elaine Reardon - Chapbook Review Request

Would you like to help out a fellow poet?  Elaine Reardon is looking for a few good reviews for her debut poetry chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery for Hope, which was published by Flutter Press, September 2016.  The book has garnered an astonishing 27 positive reviews on Amazon since we last checked. She wants to attain a total of 50 reviews on Amazon (said to be the magic number for just getting your book noticed and gaining traction).  

Poppy Road Review is offering 10 free PDF copies in exchange for an honest review on Amazon. The reviews don't have to be very long, in fact, a few words or lines will do. If interested, please send an email to PoppyRoadEditor @ outlook.com.

The overarching theme of Elaine Reardon's poetry chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery for Hope, is life, in all its quirkiness, from small moments in the day to life changing events. Whatever the heart holds can nourish and transform.

The Healer by Elaine Reardon

She murmurs softly

soothes your arms and face with

a cool damp washcloth

glazes parched lips with oil

holds warm lemon tea

for you to sip

She combs out knots 

as you doze on pillows

threads her needle

with your hair

carefully mending the holes 

in your delicate fabric     

Elaine Reardon is a poet, herbalist, and educator. Her chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery For Hope, was published September 2016. Most recently, Elaine’s poetry has been published by stanzaicstylings.com ezine, Three Drops from a Cauldron Journal, Mused, MASS Poet of the Moment, and poetrysuperhighway.com.  Elaine lives in the forest in Western Massachusetts. She maintains a blog at elainereardon.wordpress.com.