poem for July 14

[Marian O'Grady]

[Lorraine Williams]

Dear Marian,

Please send your poem within the body of your email so I may open it.

Thank you!

Lorraine

On Sat, Jul 11, 2026 at 8:33 AM Marian O'Grady <mogra...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Marian O'Grady]

Hi Lorraine—I’m puzzled about how my poem does not open for you. It’s in WORD format.

[Lorraine Williams]

My computer does not trust it in the way it needs to be opened. I have to download it and it will not pass my security.

On Sun, Jul 12, 2026 at 11:55 AM Marian O'Grady <mogra...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Lorraine—I’m puzzled about how my poem does not open for you. It’s in WORD format.

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let me know if you receive it—and can open it!

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[Marian O'Grady]

are you able to open the poems of the other poets? 

OK—here’s an email from me & I’ll insert my poem right here

The Mailbox

Summer 1950: afloat a rickety raft on Belmont Lake, 

two teenagers pledged their troth.

Later that evening, we hugged, kissed,

promised to write every day.

During the first year, I posted a letter in the mailbox each evening

and found one waiting there for me.

Skipping the winding trail from my house,

I savored the scents of the seasons:

spring’s sweet purple pansies, summer’s pungent red roses,

autumn’s earthy golden sunflowers.

Around the holidays, his letters tapered off.

If the rush of my first love dwindled, a fragile hope lingered.

Summer 1951: one evening I noticed the door of the mailbox 

was hanging open; a letter inside? No—two  frightened chipmunks!

Each day, I arranged nuts and grains on the lip of the mailbox;

slowly my new friends inched their way to dinner.

After two weeks, the chipmunks were waiting for me, 

eager to nibble from my fingers.

My 17th birthday, 1951: I wrote in my diary:

Teenage love is real for the moment. 

I will always enjoy nature’s gifts in colors and aromas.

And, for as long as it may last, 

I will spoil chipmunks at my mailbox.

Marian O’Grady ©

did this work????

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[Lorraine Williams]

Thank you!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/poetry-alliance/4615B475-312F-4D88-A4CA-93F0CD514573%40gmail.com.