Helen D'Ordine --- IN MEMORIAM
Helen always chuckled at being called “Professor” while she worked as an adjunct at Rhode Island College. A retired teacher working mostly in Early Childhood, she was a RI Writing Project Fellow, a former member of The Writersʼ Circle, a Block Island Poetry Project participant and an Origami poet.
In 2011, Helenʼs chapbook, CONCLUSIVE ILLUSIONS was self-published. She had poetry and non-fiction works in the following:
MOBIUS; RI Writersʻ Circle Anthologies, 2007, 2008; sheShines; The Oak; The Providence Journal:Poetry Corner ; Medicine and Health in RI; Celebrate: Poets Speak Out; The Block Island Poetry Project Anthology, 2013, in addition to some educational articles. Helen also had a clue card in the board game, Clever Endeavor.
Her perfect day included prayer, exercise, reading and writing. “Poetry is a very spiritual experience for me. It helps me crystalize my thoughts as I try to make sense of lifeʼs bigger issues.” She liked to include questions in her poems.
Helen was a liberal or a conservative.............depending on the issue. She hoped that the world becomes a kinder, gentler place for her five grandchildren.
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Helen D'Ordine was a member of the Ocean State Poets since its founding in 2008. Before that she was a member of the Writer's Circle and Power to The Poets. She died after a long battle with cancer and complications from a fracture that put her in a nursing home. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit and devotion to her family and late husband Tony.
It’s safe to say that those of us who knew her are better people for her friendship and counsel. She was interred at the RI Veterans’ Cemetery with Tony, after a mass of Christian Burial at the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where she was a very active congregant. One of her last sentiments as a poet, expresses her personal sense of loss with the death of her husband:
PRONOUNS AND VERBS
When we became I
and us became me
then our became my.
When is became was
and love became loved
then live became died.
In 2011, Helenʼs chapbook, CONCLUSIVE ILLUSIONS was self-published. She had poetry and non-fiction works in the following:
MOBIUS; RI Writersʻ Circle Anthologies, 2007, 2008; sheShines; The Oak; The Providence Journal:Poetry Corner ; Medicine and Health in RI; Celebrate: Poets Speak Out; The Block Island Poetry Project Anthology, 2013, in addition to some educational articles. Helen also had a clue card in the board game, Clever Endeavor.
Her perfect day included prayer, exercise, reading and writing. “Poetry is a very spiritual experience for me. It helps me crystalize my thoughts as I try to make sense of lifeʼs bigger issues.” She liked to include questions in her poems.
Helen was a liberal or a conservative.............depending on the issue. She hoped that the world becomes a kinder, gentler place for her five grandchildren.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Helen D'Ordine was a member of the Ocean State Poets since its founding in 2008. Before that she was a member of the Writer's Circle and Power to The Poets. She died after a long battle with cancer and complications from a fracture that put her in a nursing home. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit and devotion to her family and late husband Tony.
It’s safe to say that those of us who knew her are better people for her friendship and counsel. She was interred at the RI Veterans’ Cemetery with Tony, after a mass of Christian Burial at the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where she was a very active congregant. One of her last sentiments as a poet, expresses her personal sense of loss with the death of her husband:
PRONOUNS AND VERBS
When we became I
and us became me
then our became my.
When is became was
and love became loved
then live became died.
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PARALLEL UNIVERSE
Sometimes they dance separate and apart to dissonant music, with hands over their eyes, tiptoeing through the land mines of their long history together, where civilized words mask uncivilized thoughts, not daring to uncover nor discover the depths and roots of what divides and disconnects them. More different than alike, unable or unwilling to honor the specialness of each other. Bad habits and unchanged behaviors have become ingrained in their day-to-day words and deeds. They used to dance together |
SINS OF THE TONGUE
Thoughts are like arrows: once released, they strike their mark. Guard them well or one day you may be your own victim. NAVAJO Soft, short or syllabled creating pleasure. like Ma-Ma, Da-Da. The musical alliteration of Peter Piper picked a peck and sticks and stones. Melodic names like Abu Dhabi, Machu Picchu, Walla Walla, Washington. More powerful than pellets, stinging and prolonging pain. They destroy, shock, elate, mystify. Ordinary yet eloquent, common yet enlightening theyʼre just words. But choose them carefully, like husbands or friends. Words go out into the world never to come back. Crying and lying words loving and hating words fly into the air. Weightless yet weighed by the listener. |
