The
Tookany Review
Vol. IV
Winter 2008
Poetry written by Cheltenham Township Adult School Workshop Participants
Cheltenham, PA
In this issue
Edited by Deborah Fries
cover image by
E. Twan Crawford
Jan Felgoise
One Poem
Reel to Real
BASED ON A TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY
ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
STARRING JAMES GANDOLFINI (TONY SOPRANO)
SEPTEMBER, 2007.
THE MOB BOSS SHEDS HIS REEL ROLE.
QUIETLY, OFF CAMERA, OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT
HE INTERVIEWS OUR NATION'S BRAVEST,
RETURNING VETS FROM THE IRAQ WAR.
MAIMED AND SCARRED, THEIR HEARTS BLOWN AWAY
DURING THEIR CAREERS IN COMBAT DUTY.
ONE BY ONE THEY MARCH ONTO OUR SCREENS.
DRESS BLUES FRAME FACES FILLED WITH PAIN,
MEMORIES AND REMNANTS OF MISSING LIMBS
ARE REAL MEDALS THEY'LL WEAR FOR A LIFE TIME.
REPLACEMENT PARTS ATTACH TO THEIR BODIES
BUT TWISTED MINDS DON'T DETACH EASILY.
THE WORD PROSTHESIS SOUNDS LIKE A DISEASE,
YET, PROVIDES PROMISE FOR A NORMAL LIFE.
HEROES, CHOKING BACK STILTED STORIES, ALL ASK -
"WHOM WILL I FIND TO WANT THIS LEAST OF ME?"
THIS QUESTION SEARS INTO ALL OF OUR SOULS:
THE BOSS BLINKS BACK TEARS AS TWO WORLDS COLLIDE.
Janet Goleman Felgoise raised her family in Huntingdon Valley and has been a resident of Abington since 1988. Her first career was teaching Social Studies and English in the Cheltenham School District. Currently she is an attorney specializing in Family Law. Her great passion is working as a mediator, promoting this alternative dispute resolution to litigation.
At
this time, The Tookany Review is accepting only the work of
writers who are enrolled
or have been enrolled in
Cheltenham Adult School
writing workshops.
For
more information about writing workshops offered by
the Cheltenham Township Adult School, contact:
Cheltenham Township Adult
School
1414 Panther Road
Wyncote, PA 19095
Phone: 215-887-1720