Violet Nesdoly
Judge's Favorite: 2010 Canadian Christian Poetry Contest: $50
About this Christian Poet:
Violet Nesdoly lives in Langley, B.C. with her husband of 29 years. She is the mother of two adult children and is a grandmother. She works as a freelance writer and has had poetry published in Time of Singing, M.B. Herald, Prairie Messenger, Birds and Blooms, Utmostchristianwriters.com, Good Times and others. She has published two books of poems—Calendar in 2004 and Family Reunion in 2007 in conjunction with her 2006 – 2007 term as Utmost International Christian Poet Laureate.
Trinkets
i Faith
Blood-red cross
pendant of garnets gifted by a friend
Ornate crucifix of pewter and rhinestones
rescued from bookmark oblivion
Chunky Grecian of moulded and hammered metal
good with tie-dye and sandals
Mottled green enamel, suspended on a leather thong
bought in hippie days
Gold—slim, unadorned, inconspicuous and light
probably plated—no carats
All have been suspended from my neck
worn with the knowledge
of what their shape can say
though I am never sure what others see
suspect such jewels lack the brotherhood symbolism
of even a sand-traced Ichthus
ii Hope
I own a drawerful
silk, polyester, satin, wool,
squares, rectangles—scarves
wide as shawls, narrow as neckties
purple, beige, Christmas red
blue patterned, turquoise plaid
On other women add a dash
of elegant panache
tied in clever ways, pearl-pinned or clipped
speak careless elegance
Mine I rarely wear
though dig through the pile often
choosing most the leopard print that's now passé
And how to tie? I'm topsy-turvy
the right colour's
always the wrong shape
though I can't bear
to part with any—
they take so little room
and I just know someday
one will come to my dull costume
with a rescue of cachet
iii Love
Collection of singlehood—
synthetic emerald birthstone set in gold
globe of jade held by tarnished talons
English coin moulded to pinky finger comfort
multi-red mosaic Venice flower
fat circlet of coral shell—
even high-standing soldered-together
solitaire and wedding diamonds
unworn, boxed, set aside
for plain gold band
simple, comfortable
unpretentious, everlasting
testimony to us
Copyright©2010 by Violet Nesdoly