Two woman, Anita Holzberg and Ann Wainwright met over the internet with Bill Costley,
their common friend, whose wife Carolin had been Ann's good friend. Starting in
June '09, Anita sent a Cupcake poem to Ann's website cakecakecake, after seeing
the photo of cupcakes. The poem was about her grandson's first birthday party. Ann
liked that and it was the start of a wonderful exchange of poems from Anita to Ann and
Ann with color, photos, and lay-out savvy, presented them to the blog. Now, in 2010,
the two women so alike in spirit and interests, have started BetweenFriends, a new blog
site where they can combine ideas about their worlds. Ann lives in Northern UK
(Teesside). Anita lives in Northern California, Sunnyvale, (Silicon Valley where all the
computers are.) We share our lives on this blog and hope you will comment and share
yours too, dear readers and enjoy the "ride".

Thursday 28 October 2010

Let go of Vanity - Anita Holzberg


Let go of vanity
I wear a purple heart
I start the rainbow in my heart
I am invinciable in forgiving myself
loathing myself
hating myself
fooling myself too

Let go of vanity
wit goes also

I was taught that image was everything
I breathe that
I let my curly hair go
it will come back
you know
I ushered in the straight
and everyone thought it to be great

You ain't what you isn't
and ain't what you ain't.

if for when... - Anita Holzberg


if for when I would be prepared
I would not be

if for when life's unexpected wing
would sing to me

if for when I hold my finger to my thumb

I remember to eat a meal
put sun block on my face

turn the toaster off

drink my green tea

sing to thee...

In sickness and in health # 4 - Anita Holzberg

In sickness and in health
I keep you close
close at my table

You had a panic attack today
or lots of them

In sickness
I talk normal
not too much probing
you need a person to follow
you I say, a professional

In sickness
you heard me
In health
you will do what you want

I told you not to die on me
that's a promise I wanted you to say
You say, "I felt like I died, but I did not die"

Among the rosemary lamb chops
and Jewish egg noddles and avocado with tomato,
a pack was made

or so it seems.

hair dye - a decision : by Anita Holzberg

In the interim
I go to CVS to get some hair dye
I never bought hair dye
I always had someone purchase this for me
and dye my hair in a semi-permanent dye

They had no semi permanent dye
I would have liked lighter brown
but safely chose the dark brown

in the window of choices
one has to decide

Maybe leaving the hair the way it is for now
might be the best decision for the trip
nothing more new under the sun.

Monday 25 October 2010

In sickness and in health - Anita Holzberg

in sickness and health
I will carry you
to the ends of the earth
where the sky moves
where children laugh
where the monkey sings

In sickness and health
I will be there for you
as you have been here for me

In sickness
I will run for a cool glass of water
with your meds
In health
I will take a walk with you

Although we are not deemed married
You get my allegiance
as you have stood by me
when in shadow
when the great rains came
you were there for me
never faulting
just there


In sickness
and in health
the sky cries
at your beauty
she really does.

We are what we have met - Anita Holzberg


In truth
the waves of time will
envelop me
In truth
the little bud will capture me

In truth
I walk these streets for over 25 years
the bad times
not returning

In truth
I hold Elisabeth's hand
and we talk our hearts out
as the afternoon sun
runs over our shoulders

We grow older
in truth
certain things
remain
like good friends
good food
laughter near the fireplace

We grow older
pain sets in
the body walks slower
the heart never slows down

We are what we have met
soft shades of morning
children dancing in the street of Now
shoes for the fisherman
studded rainbows
rising
Be.

Belief - Anita Holzberg


I have had to believe it all
the talent the diligence the dedication
the going forth in pain

I have had to buy into it
the writer's life, the writer's dream, the day without
walls

I have earned all this
down those mean streets
pancakes at Denny's 4 AM, in a strange city
family that held a deaf ear,
slip sliding from job to job
believing the wrong people
Kinkos, my publisher, at dawn.

Sunday 24 October 2010

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Machu Picchu - Anita Holzberg


stationed here
the black tuxedo cat
a fraidy cat
a run away fer rel cat

Mine for the asking
a cat in the yard I say
no litter box
no poop in the house

Feed me in the yard and I'll be happy

Happily does she live with Picchu
in the yard
not down the street
not in the flower bed

Sleeping peacefully on a blue cotton towel
in the yard.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Freash paint for sale - Anita Holzberg

Fresh paint for sale
a whole room of mocha paint
donuts on the wall
Fresh paint for sale
get your pail
Roll it on
sing a song
change is under your roller
look over your shoulder
Fresh paint
for sale
come grab your pail.

There is always a birthday of the mind - Anita Holzberg


There is always a
Birthday of the mind

Revision
Incision
rewrites

Mathmaticians revise too

There is always a
Birth=day
a rebirth
a resoling
a remembering

I was 21
top down Ford Falcon
Washington, D.C.

I was 45
fire in kitchen
closed the door
ran to Half Moon Bay

I was 63
hunt for ideas
John Fox
San Diego workshop

I was 65
group for pain management
stayed and true
meditation and sharing

I was/ all that I have met
stomping streets
swimming laps
uncovering beds
making chicken
I am
standing there
with open arms
catch me if you can.

There is always a Birthday of the Mind.

passages - Anita Holzberg

passages
corridors
halls of moments lost

passages
comforters and
honey lemon tea
I could tell you long stories about this

passages
envelop the heart
beat in the noon-day

I lost a lot of sleep
walking
down these mean streets

Sunday 17 October 2010

New lights, thank you Demetrius - Anita Holzberg

Opening sky
lights that change color
lanterns light my garden
blue, amber, red, green
a sea of color

My garden more reflective
full
of expanded beauty
in the light.

Washed and dry - Anita Holzberg

Washed wind
dry my clothes
as they hang
on the clothesline of
the mind

Washed by wind
shadow and rain
Autumn comes
quickly, quietly
the light disappears
my eyes out of focus
Jim leaves after dinner
he says he has to get home
the lingering days
of summer leave
and their wake
it appears we are
sitting in darkness
a cave of memories
to walk into
or not

I take a cup of orange
apricot black tea

I toast the darkness
the shadow of Jim at
my table
I clear and clean
tonight sausage
surprise
we have our
coffee and vanilla ice cream

Wash and dry
clean clothes replace
the emotions that come out of the
dryer
still warm, foreboding
I fold the towels


They sit like soldiers
all lined up

Wash and dry

It is a new day.

Lovi

Washed by dreams
I begin to see what is

The Borders of the Mind
are tested

A green moon shines
on a stark morning

Wash away my pain
an old refrain.


Lasting PEACE - Anita Holzberg


Lasting P e a c e
I taste you at a clean kitchen table
flowers light the way

Lasting M e m o r y
the candle is glowing
loving thoughts holding
my 89 year old Auntie
cheers me

Lasting I n t e l l e c t
the words fly like silver fish
the tongues speak
the brain moves swiftly
over the broom-stick
witch
as she shows her colors
for Halloween

Lasting P E A C E
I can not taste you
a taste of beige grapefruit sweet
a ripe melon lingers
the sun aglow like Christmas in July
the tray of Chai tea before us
so great is
the Ma-coon cat Reggie nearby
the trees kissing the pavement
You near by too

Lasting P E A C E
You have been my longing
my forever yearning
my quest among many landscapes
now you sit with me
as big as all outdoors
and pray with me too.

Friday 15 October 2010

Sweet Bee - Anita Holzberg

Sweet bee,
you are true to the passing wind
the rain, the shadow, the snow that comes down
You are true to what you feel
who you are
convictions and powerful thoughts
humor too

Sweet Bee,
come again
be apart of the swing of Nature
make your mark

You have come into your own,
You are at home

Sweet bee.

Memories - Anita Holzberg

Lost in the sea of memory
I remember the black and white floor
the kitchen with pink cabinets
the electric coffee pot
rows of roses and peonies

In that moment
I get lost to another time and space

Its OK

I need
to fill up the space of now

to put old photographs away
their memory always on my wet lips
for the asking

Lost in the day before the day
my cat runs through the house
Machu Picchu
a sacred cat
who can fault that??

Anita S. Holzberg
Memories
Oct. 13, '10

The Heart Stills - Anita Holzberg

In the waking
doors are more quiet
the heart does not rise up like liquid rain

In the waking
the meds are working
the miracle drug
which costs
not as the cost of not having it

My new yard lights
are the drama
in my life now

Not, the raging soul
My heart stills.

Anita S. Holzberg
October 12, '10

Saturday 9 October 2010

Once - Anita Holzberg

Once
newness
stopped my breath
like a shiny penny

Once I walked 27 blocks in heels to work
New York --my mean streets

Once I dreamed for Rachel
& Emily
Once they emerged beyond
my expectations and dreams

Once I did performance poetry
the stand up queen among male voices
I did this 3 times a week

Once I drove to the highest point in Santa Cruz
and needed help to get down

Once I listened to your heart
I heard the words
of love and devotion
the sound of the bell ringing

Once we get there
we can go further
Once we run a mile, we can run two.

Once we dream
we can live them
in the waking, too.

Lovi.

words like jewels - Anita Holzberg

words
like jewels dance into the day

words
the torch to the darkness
to the person who lost their mind
temporary
to the ions of stars that light our universe

words mean more
like sweet cream
laced in a cup of very fine coffee

I give up sometimes
then I see my words
they have feet
"sweet bee, they have feet"

neat.
In my blog with dear Ann
We capture ideas and photos
Dear readers over 1,000 of you
have viewed what we do.
Thanks,
Anita and Ann anitaandme.blogspot.com

A Love Poem § Anita Hoilzberg


For truth
I see you
a warm puppy
crystal clear
woofs
walking into a new day

In truth
I take your glance
all eyes on me

Did I ever fathom this??

Three kisses
one kiss for the morning, afternoon, evening

You watch me walk
You lift me up
like Cocoa your affectionate dog
by my side
by our side.

Monday 4 October 2010

a poem from Anita


soft thoughts
like soft skin
hold the mind in place

harsh words
jolt the soft thoughts
they still stay in tack
I harbor no resentments
just reactions that have no
vengance

soft thoughts
can be strong thoughts
skinned knees
wake
to the world
of conflict

I teetor toter
before my first daughter was born

I tetor tater
in the morning rain
my car on the driveway

soft thoughts
carry me to the promise land
a mecca
the storm
a ring around rainbows
a pillow also soft
to fall on.

Anita S. Holzberg
Word Diva



going forward -Anita Holzberg


worst scenario

play superimposed
on sky
die a little bit
in the waxing and waning
grapple with the past

going forward
I give it all up

Word diva, performer, CD maker

I stand at my own attention

my presence is as large
as life
now
as large as life.

Dare to live!

Lovi


hALLOWEEN - Anita Holzberg


PUMPKINS POP
ORANGE FLOODS THE LAND
ALL IS A GLOW
PUMPKINS POP
CANDY IS PASSED OUT
LIKE FRAGRANT WINE
aND THE SPIRIT IS KIND
POP POP POP

aNITA'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY......................

G-d for sale - Anita Holzberg


starling remarks
before the dawn
before the lawn becomes green
before the sea of memory takes over
before the clover grows
before the pots of flowers open their
mouths
before the intention of living
stirs one's mind and spirit

beyond belief
in tune with the wind on the leaves
on clotheslines
on birds flirting with sky
on telephone wires
who hires
G-d?
G-d for sale
no bargain here
He makes us work for what we have
no sentence too great

beyond
what we can fathom
in our slightest movement
beyond life as we know it.

Anita S. Holzberg/poet/teacher/songwriter

Never Land - Anita Holzberg


Never land
is far beyond the horizon

Never land
walks
in mind and spirit

soft shades of morning

Never land
is what we create

ourselves

A mind that is engaged in living

open
free like doors
swinging
can we ever be
near
Never land?

P.S. Nirvana is a hope

a set of intentions

for finding Never land

Maybe its easier than we imagine.


Anita S. Holzberg/poet/teacher/composer

I ride the great white river - Anita Holzberg


I ride the great white
river
time is on my side
I ride the great white
river
I abide by nothing

memory goes into her box
success walks on tenuous feet
success is in the eye of the beholder

I walk into the great white
river
the waves play as trumpets
the melody stays in my head

Dare to live!

Anita S. Holzberg

Brain waves come like silk - Anita Holzberg

Hollow not
brain waves come
like silk
after being brain dead
to reality shows
grabbing every waking moment

brain waves
like sea waves
reverberate with the tides
the ebb and flow
follow sounds
in the universe
deep underwater dreams
emerge
in the dark yearnings of the heart
black thoughts
transpire
the world we treasure
is the deep longing
the upside down world
where the heart fights for survival
like fish we come
up for water
sometimes that is not enough
food, sustain ace, drops of water
mouth on the open sea
seagulls dart over
seemingly nothing
is happening
so quiet the deep
sea
the mind in struggle
makes little noise
on the shadow of the
earth's crust.

Anita S. Holzberg
Sometimes that is not enough,
food, sustenance, drops of water

soft rain does not fall - Anita Holzberg

soft shadows
obscure not
soft rain does not fall
in a few weeks it will
the shoe is on the other foot
fine wine
and cafe that it brewed to perfection
glances
parting hours
stable remarks
a place mat
remembers what was said here

the night falls
company leaves

P.S. In the rhythm of
we pursue those we love.
the table rocks
with remembrance.

Anita S. Holzberg
October 2, 'a0



Sunday 3 October 2010

A bit of piano from Ann (Lady Gaga's 'Paparazzi')

After the Rainbow - Anita Holzberg

After the rainbow
there is peace
After the rainbow
there is peace
You came back to me
You my very best friend

There is singing all around
And the little bird without words
sings my song.
and that little bird without words
sings my song.

Saturday 2 October 2010

For Corinne/ because Space and Memory - Anita Holzberg

space and memory
encounter
the counter of the mind

space gives memory grow-power

I leave that space
become something else
like a fallen leaf
a long steamed rose
in the pool of the past.

Anita's poem of Space and Memory



A poem by Anita Holzberg

10 zucchinis make havoc with the field
of their dreams
Lemons lurk on lemon trees disguised
by tall green leaves
Lettuce wilts on 115 degree plates
on a LA patio
Purple plums rise as fall comes
almost too soon here
Pastry chefs stand to reason
with chocolate pumpkin raisin cake
Wedding Chefs learn quickly to create
dreams skillfully and soon
Popcorn of every variety: kettle corn,
garlic, just popped hoot
Pumpkins pop orange their flavor
and colored candies float far
Avocados green as the season sprouts
good fats into sky
Food freaks and nutrition experts
allude to new attitudes now

Anita Holzberg

autumn - from Ann