Puzzle Piece
Dorothy J Carbone 1995


Look at them, you know they are one.
heads bent towards each other.
walking together to church, or store, or maybe home.
Like friends sharing stories of each day.
Mostly happy words along their way.
At the beginning of the tree,
they have a way to go together.
Two walls of homes add to their strength.
Reflections on the sidewalk in front of them,
merge their shadows, melting together their lives.
they stand firm on cobblestone,
on their way…



Mom and Me
Dorothy J Carbone 1995


We could have walked closely.
it may have been us.
Though mom and I never walk together.
We shared nothing, although I’ve been told I look like her.
Our path long is gone,
different directions on different winds.
My separate homes only added to the wall.
water in the air, are we, not even together in a cloud or a puddle on the ground.
Reality is not as kind.
I have no anchor, no Kites tail.
I get lost on the breeze,
Tossing lost forever on the sea.
Our chance, carelessly throw away like an eyeless teddy bear.


Picture Puzzle Piece of Mom and Me
Dorothy J Carbone 1995

We could have walked closely.
Look at them, you know they are one.
heads bent towards each other.
It may have been us.
Walking together to church, or store, or maybe home.
Though Mom and Me never walked together.
Like friends sharing stories of each day.
Mostly happy words along their way.
We shared nothing,
although I’ve been told, I look like Her.
At the beginning of the street,
they have a way to go together.
Our path Long is gone,
different directions on different winds.
Two walls of homes add to their strength.
Reflections on the sidewalk in front of them,
merge their shadows, melting together their lives.
Water in the air are we.
Not even together in a cloud, or a puddle on the ground.
they stand firm on cobblestone,
on their way.
Reality is not as kind.
I have no anchor, no kites tail.
I get lost on a breeze.
tossing lost forever on the sea.
Our chance carelessly throw away like an eyeless teddy bear.

Sometimes
By Dorothy J Carbone August 19, 1983

Sometimes, I am lost without you!
Sometimes, I just don’t know what to do!
Sometimes, I cry when I’m alone!
Sometimes, I just think of you!
Sometimes, I just smile when I think about you!
Sometimes, I feel cold!
Sometimes, I feel warm just thinking of you!
Then there are just Sometimes!

Always
By Dorothy J Carbone May 11, 1994


I have always wanted an Easter Bunny.
I have always wanted a Dog, a Cat, a Fish Tank, and a Bird.
I have always wanted real parents.
I have always wanted a big family.
I have always wanted someone to love.
You have given me all that and more!
That is why you will always have me!

Time Travel
By Dorothy J Carbone September 2, 1991

I took a trip today to yesterday.
Why I did I do not know.
I wanted to go beyond today.
I saw people differently though.
I saw things I had overlooked the first time.
Yesterday was okay.
Today is good.
Tomorrow will be great.
Most people look back and say how great it was.
I try to say later will be better because yesterday was not such a happy time.
It is not that it makes me sad
Oh no, it makes me try for a better way, a better today
Not just for me but for others here with me today

Autumn Leaves
By Dorothy J Carbone Fall 1972

I do believe out of all the seasons I love fall the best.
With its glowing colors of red, gold, and deep rich browns.
The air so crisp and clear.
Like a child clean and washed ready for bed, after bath time.
Just waiting for that blanket of snow to come.
The bare trees stand so still as they say goodbye to the birds and give up their last few leaves.
It is a shame most people can’t see the beauty.
There are a few still left, they haven’t forgotten.
The beauty and the peacefulness that comes just before the earth says goodnight.

So Far Away
By Dorothy J Carbone Fall 1972

Why does time go slowly when I am away from you?
Why is the night longer than the day?
Why do I need you so much and cry when you are far from my side?
Why my love, because I Love You!

Looking Back
By Dorothy J Carbone 1972

I remember, somewhere in the back of my mind;
A face, a person, and feelings.
I remember the way we felt for each other,
His movements, his ways.
Right now it seems it happened just yesterday,
But it happened many years ago.
It was thought forgotten.
But, I remember.

09/21/1995  Dorothy J. Carbone
(inspired by “The Mill” by Edwin Arlington Robinson)



I knew a little of them both, though I can almost catch a glimpse,
or smell of yeast, of mother’s skirt.
As I hold on to but the hem of heavy wool.
Of father, there is less than that,
the feel of whiskers on my face.
Little left but me.
After waking from the nap to cold damp chill of dusk.
While empty darkness all around me, made crickets come to life.
Too scared to move, from the warmth of their bed,
snuggled under covers thick, was where they would find me.
Three days had passed since the nap began.
Smaller and frail I felt without them beside me.
Pulled from the bed, and pushed into the world.
How could I have known, no one said the words.
In fear, I would cry.
Looking back, I don’t think I knew, or how my life would run on without them.
No Miller’s anymore for my name will surely change.
Time has passed, yet those days remain around me.
The nuns have tried to show the way, away from the path they took.
Who is right? Who is wrong? I sit here on the edge of life.
Down the aisle I go, now there are no Miller’s anymore!

Inside of Me
By Dorothy J Carbone 1980

I walk down the road to the cliff.
As I had so many years ago.
I know what I will see when I get there;
Water Colors
Spiraling Heights
Circle of Trees
For it remains the same,
Inside of Me.
The feelings still here,
Inside of Me.
For it has always been,
Inside of Me.
And not on the cliff by the sea,
Or in the love that used to be.
But deep within,
Inside of Me.

by Dorothy J Carbone 1985

He was a hard man to know.
I never saw his feelings.
Hugs and kisses, not his style,
no angry words either.
What he felt was deep inside,
since the mothers leaving.
It would have hurt him so,
if tears were part of weeping.
He didn’t see the hurt he caused in trying to be strong.
Holding back he held me not.
I felt the blame for the mothers leaving.
How deep the hurt must have been
deeper then the deeper wishing well
no coins to toss into
wishes I had never been
better than this coldness left by the mothers leaving.
Don't get me wrong I love this man.
I shared the lost, felt his pain.
I only wish his feelings weren’t taken,
with my mothers leaving.

03/28/1995 Dorothy J. Carbone


My love asked me,
“What do you want to be?”
My answer took him by surprise!
“I want to be a drop of water,” I said.
It can create many ripples,
Or remain unseen.
It can be by itself,
Or one of many.
To travel down a babbling brook,
Or be content on a spiders hook.
It can go anywhere,
Or just disappear,
Only to be condensed again.
My love wondered,
How could this be?
“Didn’t I want to be with he?”
I replied,
“ Yes, you would be the cup I would fill,
Or is it the lips that would drink from the cup?”
For then I would be part of he, and not so much a part of me.

Dorothy J Carbone 04/04/1995



My mind went with the wind today,
whirling like the leaves, taking flight.
Spinning higher as I go,
up over the hill and mountaintop.
for no obstacle got in my way.
All to avoid thoughts of you!
Higher and faster, till out of control.
it’s funny what the mind can do.
I could not breathe, for fear of you.
I stopped looking down, for far below was solid ground.
So afraid of what I saw, you walked away from me once more.
My mind went with the wind today.

06/1999 Dorothy J. Carbone


I went to the Well today
It was just another day
I carried buckets along the way
I didn’t think it was a chore
It was a bore
I went to the well today
Just like yesterday
I noticed flowers along the way
They appeared where the water sprayed
I went to the well today just like yesterday
The buckets where lighter today
The reason, hard to say
I went to the well today
I couldn’t stay away
I met people along the way
I hadn’t seen them yesterday
I couldn’t wait to go to the well today

by Dorothy J Carbone 1985

I lost my father today.
Not in a word I forgot to say.
But truly lost him along the way.
Someone lost a father today.
A son, a boy, along his way.
Someone lost a father today.
A child, a smile, left briefly to stay.
Someone lost a father today.
A hug, a handshake, gone today.
Someone lost a father today.
He is here in my heart always to stay.

Dorothy J Carbone 09/29/1995


I watch the dying of the leaves, who would guess they are - with all those colors bright and bold.
I have been there at their birth, in late fall, as they push through the branch, clinging, staying small.
I have stayed and watched them, through the winter with its ice and snow, snuggled under covers, barely seen.
I have rejoiced as spring has come in waking buds, bees, and things that sing.
Opening up to anyone who will listen to their song
Blowing gently in new air like birds who fill up trees,
As the changing of the leaves.
All through summer I have enjoyed their shade as they feed the tree,
Always giving what it needs.
Running, crashing into fall, till we think we know it all.
Now maybe is my chance, only to be cut off from the tree at last,
I am she who has no love left for falling leaves.