Category Archives: family

Love poem from “Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine”

Not too late for Valentine’s. It’s really the whole weekend, right?

One of the narrative threads running through my new book, Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine: Poems of Grace, Hope, and Healing, is love. (The book is dedicated to my husband.) Here is a love poem written before major surgery:

11/21/13

Safe and Spooned

I am safe
lying here spooned
with my sleeping husband

who is warm
and smells slightly of cloves.
We are softly breathing

and music is playing.
Lying here under a thick duvet
it is a warm cocoon.

I am safe
pain-free
breathing easily

heart beats regularly.
When I rise
I slip back into the room

and walk effortlessly
out the door
down the hall into

my own silence.

Margaret Dubay Mikus
© 2013

New! Print edition of Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine is now available at Amazon.com!

Seasonal Smile: Christmas Cricket

In 1996, at this time of year, I had just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer. Surgery was behind me and radiation treatments were ahead. Our small family of four was trying to have a “normal’ Christmas. We put up the tree and decorations, wrapped presents for our two young kids. My husband made the traditional turkey dinner. In the flurry of activity (and some haze of chemo fog on my part) came this poem (based on a true story): To hear me read it (Track 19 on my CD, Full Blooming)

Christmas Cricket

Just when I thought
nothing could shake me,
a cooked cricket
showed up on our Christmas turkey,

not crispy, but thoroughly well done,
black body sprawled across a browned thigh.

Awakened by the warmth of the oven
from winter hibernation
in a dark, safe place—the roaster,

it began the final journey
in ever increasing heat
and then succumbed,
at least where we could see

before taking a crunchy bite.

Margaret Dubay Mikus
© 1996

On my CD, Full Blooming
(Listen to poem)

From my book, As Easy as Breathing
(Eric Hoffer Award Honorable mention
in Self-help/ Spiritual)

Joy Angel from Barbara Copyright MDMikus 2009

Read an E-Book Week

2011 LGNB 95 smaller front coverD ebook for Smashwords FIVE STAR REVIEW:
“Margaret’s poems are always personal, yet universal, in that any sensitive reader will be able to identify with the thoughts they embody…lyrical…concise and still as elaborate as prose…. This particular anthology focuses on letting go of your children ‘when their hours are no longer woven into the fabric of your days.’ [She] not just gives voice to feelings that are often repressed, but sincerely seeks to heal. Above all this is a labor of love from a…loving mother, adorned with words from the heart and simple photographs that complement the words beautifully. I highly recommend this book…to all sensitive readers who are working on letting go in any way.”
–Pramod Uday, spiritual teacher from India

Yes, it’s time again to try something new. I am offering a deep discount of 75% off on my second book, Letting Go and New Beginnings: A Mother’s Poetic Journey. For the rest of this week only you can own it for only $1. Just enter code REW75 upon check out.

You can read this book on your computer, e-book readers (including Kindle and Nook), tablets, and smart phones. If you have color capacity you can view my photos in full color (or in b/w, if not). You can read a free sample before purchase. Thank you for your support!

My husband chose to read this poem at his mother’s memorial service as the “voice of the mother.”

2/24/08

After You Left

Constantly
I am watching out for you.
Even when I am not watching,
I am watching.

I cannot say why this is true
or when it began,
it feels like forever
my love.

So do me a great favor
and become…not less carefree
nor less careless,
nor even more careful,

for being full of care
is not it exactly.
Be more aware of your choices,
more in tune with your inner wisdom.

For you are wise
dear one.

And if I am selfish
and want you to stay with me
when it is clearly time to go,
forgive…

and go.
Call me when you arrive.
I will be waiting.

Margaret Dubay Mikus
Copyright 2008

For more of the story you might like: https://www.fullblooming.com/surprises-of-both-kinds/

Willow Review Reading

I am grateful to Michael Latza (Editor) for inviting me to be the Illinois featured author for the 40th anniversary issue of the Willow Review. It is a beautiful magazine, inside and out (see cover to left).

“Veiled References,” Steven Jones

The April launch was delayed by huge storms and flooding. But it was a perfect clear fall day for the reading and launch on September 26th at College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL.

Several people read from the 2013 Willow Review, both prose pieces and poems. I went last. I chose to read all 20 of my accepted poems, selections from 2006 to 2012 (about 23 minutes).

Thank you to Mike Latza for the photos!

MDM with Robert Klein Engler, award-winner for his poem, “Child’s Play”

Robin Kacel, associate editor, gives lovely reading

MDM reading one of 20 accepted poems

I felt like I did my best reading ever, delivering each poem, connecting to those who came. Following the reading there was a Q&A session with perhaps 6 very thoughtful questions. Wonderful, attentive audience of about 40!

Stephen (and daughter Alex, not pictured) were there to support

Thank you to all who came, family, students, old friends and new friends, literary people of all persuasions.

Coming soon: my interview published in the Willow Review.

Tell me, what have you done lately that “stretched you” out of your comfort zone?

Letting Go and New Beginnings on Sale!!

2011 LGNB 95 smaller front coverD ebook for Smashwords-2

Take advantage of the Smashwords.com Summer/ Winter Sale for 75% OFF my award-winning book, Letting Go and New Beginnings! This makes it $1!

Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39211 and enter coupon code SSW75 at checkout. (Code is also in the right column of the book page.)

Supports those who are going through any kind of transition, and aren’t we all! This sale is only on during the month of July, so don’t wait. A great time to check out other Smashwords authors while you are there.

“It’s the story of loving and letting go, the bittersweet feeling all parents feel, all people feel when our cherished ones start to move on. I found the poems to be beautiful and timely—mirroring the transition I find myself in now—letting go, new beginnings. I also love how the imagery of the photographs expresses and compliments the intentions of the poems.
Karen Gottlieb, archetypal consultant, fabric artist, co-owner of International Galleries, and mother of two daughters

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