Volume 16 Issue 08 – Section 1

Outhouses

Behind every rural school sat two small structures, one for girls, one for boys. Two-holers were common, a regular size beside a smaller version, set atop a deep hole. Woe to anyone who lost something…   A Halloween prank by the local young men was to tip the outhouses over, or better yet hoist one […]

Sleuthing in Baileys Harbor

Camera in hand, we stalked Orphan Annie’s B & B in search of Baileys Harbor Elementary School. An elusive subject, the original building’s existence warranted both our caution and skepticism.   Disguises may have commercial value for a quaint but elegant lady in mid-twentieth century dress. A fine oak door adorned by polished brass. Coach […]

Schools

The white frame school house with its bell, the two-holer out behind, looks little changed from early years. Surrounded by peaceful fields, it must have been a comfortable sort of school, where generations of neighbors recited their lessons, did their sums and vied for roles in the Christmas pageant. Mine was a city school, a […]

Copenhagen Denmark 1944

Was not an inviting little schoolhouse conjuring up fond memories of an innocent time, but a garrison grey structure where strict discipline and obedience held submissive scholars in check. I remember most of my teachers, a few with fondness, others with sentiments bordering hate. My third grade music teacher Mr. Dosa was very short. The […]

Calendar of Smells

Close your eyes. Remember the smell of newly oiled floors and the salty odor of steaming children after recess on those first hot days of September? The crispy scent of October’s colored leaves that teacher hung over the blackboards? Wood smoke from the big black stove mixed with the smell of cows which clung to […]

School House Poetry Exhibit Preview

Each year, The Wallace Group sponsors a poetry/art show at the Meadows Gallery of Scandia Village in May. A theme is chosen and poems are written to go with the pictures or visual elements chosen for the show.

Penny Drop

Behind the scraggly lilacs and the swing set at the chain link fence she and I met a few times tentative ten-year olds. her face long and serious open brown eyes, stringy hair, but neat I have accepted Jesus as my personal Savior she said. Have you? Something small and dark began to grow in […]

Miscarriage

On Sunday the wind blew like hell the empty farmhouse down the road burned windows raw black holes with brown halos a monument of loss next morning the willow tree is right to hold her tiny green leaves close like jewels they drip down her arms glowing, ignorant of their perfection the robin’s egg fell […]

Secrets

Open the old safe in the closet with its heavy clunking door that never locks and fill a velvet bag with rhinestones from your mothers shoes and keep them there look at them when your door is closed and everyone is sleeping run your finger across the gleaming spines of the World Book Encyclopedia 1976 […]

After Swimming Alone

From the chaos of primordial star-mix or a paint bowl on a wheel I have been flung and landed without incident below sharp grassed dunes on this eastern facing shore I lie in the severe September sun south side of my body burning the other in shade and chill a Picasso woman, black and white, […]

Featured Poet: Katie Schnorr

Katie Schnorr lives on a farmstead in Southern Door County with her husband and two young daughters. She teaches in the Sturgeon Bay Public Schools and also writes for Door County Living magazine.