Blackout: Roanoke, Virginia, 1942 by Sherry Hughes Beasley

Blackout: Roanoke, Virginia, 1942
by
Sherry Hughes Beasley

When the siren shattered the night air

they had to turn off the lights

and shove black paper against

every window that could serve as a target.

My mother at twelve

had become an only child, five brothers

serving, one

missing in action.

Before they left, she polished their shoes,

ironed their uniforms for a quarter each,

then, each hand waved its semi-salute

as the bus disappeared around the corner,

And, there were still

floors to scrub, pots to scour, butter to create

from lard and yellow food coloring, gasoline

and sugar rations to collect.

Every evening my mother and her mother

would sit on the holey sofa and listen

to the static crackle of a man's voice reporting

news from the front,

Wonder whether the tiny, incessant buzzing

plaguing their ears

was enemy aircraft

or only a mosquito.

Sherry Beasley is the award-winning author of four poetry chapbooks and her work has appeared in numerous literary journals. Founder and senior editor of Astounding Beauty Ruffian Press, she is also a professional designer and artisan. Sherry, a native Virginian, lives near the Blue Ridge mountains.

nscott29@aol.com:
As a child, I only knew my home outside of Chicago in those years; still a surprise to learn how universal the American experience was during those years. Fine poem.
Posted 08/20/2013 06:58 AM

phebe.davidson@gmail.com:
This is an extraordinary poem, quiet and earth shattering.
Posted 08/20/2013 06:42 AM

Contents of this web site and all original text and images therein are copyright © by Your Daily Poem. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchasing books through any poet's Amazon links helps to support Your Daily Poem.
The material on this site may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded, distributed, transmitted, stored, altered, adapted,
or otherwise used in any way without the express written permission of the owner.