From the Archives—Presenting Joyce I. Johnson and Joyce M. Johnson

It is a special pleasure to honor our two Joyces, each of them in their 90s. They impacted the writing community by forwarding the gift of readable verse.  They helped me see another side of poetry than the complicated verse we studied in my years as a youth in school—then I hated poetry! 

They have been the backbone of small market presses before computers existed.  Sharing poetry in 2004 meant rolling out the manual typewriter, tossing aside drafts that contained errors or things that quite work as well as I thought, developing a cover letter, and sending it off by snail mail with an SASE.  One submission often was hours of work.

The more I’ve come to know these two women, the more I admire them. They have touched the lives of many and have helped to keep poetry alive by encouraging others.  Thank you Joyce I. and Joyce M. for the countless ways you have made the writing community a joyous place to be.

Blessings,

Karen O’Leary

Whispers’ Editor

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Presenting Joyce I. Johnson--

Not For Losers

I've joined the quite exclusive club,
"The Over Ninety Bunch"
If duty calls, we answer with,
"Denied, we're out for lunch."

We've worked hard and we've paid our dues,
In summer, spring and fall,
And since we live on borrowed time,
It is precious after all.

The winter of our lives is ours
To do with as we please.
We've taught you well, now do your job,
So we can take our ease.

If you should see some older gals
With glasses of wine or punch,
Who look like they are having fun,
We're the "Over Ninety Bunch."

Joyce I. Johnson lives in the beautiful Skagit Valley of Washington State. She owns a small farm and rents her land to a bulb grower. She is surrounded by beauty in the spring from the tulips and daffodils that inspire much of her poetry. Joyce celebrated her 98th birthday in July of 2016.

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Presenting Joyce M. Johnson--

Pledge of the Hunter

In November, on

Some dark night, I know

The hunter will return.

He will come to

The window where I lie.

I will see him

At midnight when I go

To that window.

His hunter outline

Will stretch across the sky.

Although an ancient myth

Of childhood dreams,

Astronomers would have

Us all believe

That galaxies of stars

Make up what seems

This image of a man.

It does not matter.

Orion, you are beautiful,

And durable, and true.

Each winter you appear

Above the broken world

To reaffirm my faith

In the eternal hunter

Who made both me and you.

When Joyce M. Johnson (born 1921) retired from 50 years working as a legal secretary, she embarked on a “second career” as a Certified Alcoholism Counselor. While co-facilitating group meetings for seniors at a treatment center, she created a small tri-fold booklet named SMILE to distribute to clients. Upon retiring (again), Joyce was encouraged by Editor Kay Jaworski to publish a larger version of SMILE nationally. A free issue was given to a shut-in of each subscriber’s choice. Every cover page featured artwork by Joyce’s sister, Helen Sherrier, a professional artist. SMILE became Joyce’s “third career” which she enjoyed for twenty years, forging many friendships that will live on beyond the pages of SMILE.