I AM: Proud--Poet Mary Anne Abdo Shares Memories, Love, Loyalty

Ed.: As part of Studio B Art Gallery's "I AM: Proud" project, local writers and artists were encouraged to respond to the theme. In "Blue Illumination" Mary Anne reflects on the rebirth of the Scranton Lace Works and her family's connection to working in this world famous lace mill. In "The Poet's Widower," Mary Anne pays tribute to her kind and loving husband's support of her as a creative individual.

by Mary Anne Abdo*

Blue Illumination

Anticipation is breathing through,
Friday’s atmosphere.
A chapter has reopened for
my photographic muse.
December winds will never deter children,
and grandchildren of the mill.
Eagerly surrounding Lace’s clock tower.
As symphonies of motion pictures,
flash against sturdy red brick.
Memories of our ancestors’—
contributions to this Lackawanna Valley.
Scranton’s Lace tower welcomed—
Europe’s citizens to our land of opportunity.
Scranton’s Lace tower witnessed from her
aerial view the every changing cityscape.
Scranton’s Lace tower kept her time proudly,
as the intrinsic element of life.
A mist envelops my fondest recollections,
of Aunt Margaret and my mother entering
those Scranton Lace metal doors.
As distant voices of mill workers are encapsulating,
the air.
Their descendants are counting down from ten to zero.
With a vision so brilliant, it should become a movie scene.
On this shadowy eventide, illumination has been reborn.

The Poet’s Widower

Patiently waiting for my poet’s door to open.
An empty grey loveseat cushion,
is where two cats sleep,
echoes of expletives,
and shouts of joy,
permeate through paneled walls.

Knowing that she is creating, editing, and formatting.
Her work requires solitude.
Being a devoted man,
sitting alone through her seasonal words.

Missing her on the porch,
missing her as deer cross our garden path,
missing her as we converse with summer stars,
just missing her company.

Sitting on different chairs.
Watching her poetry performances,
in a bar,
in a library,
in a church,
a military celebration,
a stranger’s porch,
a Philadelphia stage.

I am the man behind the poet,
always-here one hundred and ten percent,
a poet’s widower can be a conundrum,
wondering what wanders through her mind.

Poets and creative human beings,
see what everyone else misses,
we lead such hurried lives.
Those words,
those photos,
those landscapes,
of watercolor,
and acrylic,
colored canvasses.

Showing humanity their effervescent beauty,
that explodes God’s gifts through her worded tears,
of gratitude,
of admiration,
of our true love.

* Mary Anne Abdo is an author, poet and photographer. Her debut poetry book, "Fractured Lollipop Poems of Brokenness Healing and Hope" is now on Amazon. Mary Anne has a passion for art, culture and literature. Her work has been featured in The Edge of Humanity Magazine, Moonstone Press, Pennsylvania Bards, Local Gems Press, The Avocet, Calla Press, and Studio B's annual poetry anthologies (2022 and 2023). She has also collaborated on several children's books, Creative Gems, Volumes 2&3, and has been featured internationally in Bindweed Magazine's seasonal anthology. She is currently working on her first children's book. She lives in Scranton, PA. You may check out her work on: Facebook: Mary Anne Abdo/Poet/Author

A "B Inspired" podcast episode with Mary Anne can be found on your favorite podcast platform. 

Studio B has published 10 anthologies of poetry, prose, and art from local writers and artists. Copies are available through Amazon and Lulu Press. Further details can be found on studiobbb.org. 

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