Kendall Merriam: The Oasis of Ice
For George and Michelle
Hot today, only a few days in a year
so we stand it fairly easily
is it to keep the Harley
up and running
cool its heart
but George and Michelle
know the poem makes them
conscious of the workers
of Africa, Siberia
who bring joy to those
contemplating joining for life
(our Gods and Goddesses)
try as best they can
Kendall Merriam was born and raised in Rockland. He has a history degree from Gordon College and pursued graduate studies in military and maritime history at the University of Maine at Orono and Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Conn. He received grants to study historical research at Colonial Williamsburg and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Merriam has been widely published, including in Katyn W Literaturze (Katyn in Literature), a Polish anthology of literary works about the WWII Katyn Forest Massacre by 120 international authors, including Czeslaw Milosz. Most of Merriam’s work has a definite muse – family, friends, and strangers – with life’s larger themes of work, love, loss and death.
as they inhabit this icy shop
with bindings of gold, silver
platinum
the honor of beauty
the honor of care
the honor of love
--can the jewels
bring good wishes
the intelligence of stones
gives gifts of peace
from the ancient city
of Balkh in Afghanistan
with lapis
to the Navaho turquoise
Rockland represents
these cities, tribes
for 7,500 citizens
who know sculptures
the gems, the souls that create
a sublime happiness
Kendall Merriam at By George Jewelers
