she sat
all dressed in black
from her shoulders
to her shoes
only colors were her flowers
and the cat
she sat
each summer night
all alone
but smile in sight
house was tidy
tidy’s right
and that is that
with her chair
placed just outside
and another by her side
she sat
and hoped a friend
would stop on by
though so few of them remained
she longed to chat
not be alone
so she sat there
greeting every passerby
with her wide
and toothless grin
treating everyone
like kin
she sat
and watched the world
move to and fro
with some crochet in her lap
moving hands
this way and that
she sat
for there was no place
left to go
with a husband
in the grave
and her children gone away
she sat
reflecting back
upon it all
married fifty years
holding back
the salty tears
she knew
that even then
she felt alone
she sat
and thought some more
then her neighbor
from next door
brought some flowers
from her garden
and red wine
so she sat
that summer night
with a good friend
by her side
and she sighed
a tired sigh
for life that’s gone
breathing in
the perfumed air
she was happy
in her chair
for this is where
she sat
when all was done
Author: Anne Celano Frohna
I have been writing for as long as I could hold a pencil in hand and would not feel complete without it.
And I actually made a meager living at it (and as an editor) for 25 years.
I worked for newspapers and magazines, in graphic arts and advertising, and wrote several local history books.
But I have also taught English in Japan, been a Nanny/family chef in Italy, worked in and for museums, was an Airbnb Superhost for four years, as well as an Etsy shop owner, where I sold vintage items I found over the years at thrift stores and yard sales.
After moving to Arizona with my family in 2010, I completed a series of different writing projects, including two books of creative non-fiction:
Just West of the Midwest: a comedy (Based on journals I kept during my two years as an English teacher in rural Japan.)
Within Close Range: short stories of an American Childhood (Short stories and poems about growing up as the middle of five children in suburban Chicago.)
But in the past few years, I have found my voice in poetry.
I am a mother of two wonderful girls, Eva (26) and Sophia (24) and wife to one wonderful husband, Kurt.
In 2023, with our girls grown and off on their own, my husband and I packed up our things and moved to the tip of Italy’s heel, to the Salento region, where I continue to work on my poetry, as well as a new fiction project, and indulge in my passion for mosaics - all of which you can view on my Instagram page @ acfrohna.
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Dog-eared Stories by anne celano frohna 