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".

Wednesday 31 August 2011

nervous energy - Anita Holzberg


nervous energy
  translates into good poetry
nervous energy
  rehearsals of the mind
     resign themselves in time.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg
Poet of the heart

In Beauty - Anita Holzberg

In beauty
  In candor
    In the nuances
          that make up
             your life
I have been your Mother
   your pain,
      my pain
   your joy,
       my joy
I look at you
  all grown-up
    with a life of your own
       You have made
               your way in this world
  
In peace
 In harmony, I come
    I seek for you
          the very best life
  with your beloved

In words beyond words
 I speak silence
    like acts of kindness
           that I bestow unto thee.
                 dear Emily.


Anita Schiffman Holzberg 

buttons & friend

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Countdown - Anita Holzberg


Countdown
  til the wedding weekend
     2 days
 whirlwind of emotions
     clean the house
          press the clothes
    pack
         run to the store and back
and pack some more
        presents for owen and new granddaughter
            don't forget to clean the steamer
                      streams of consciousness
                 family members of the past emerge
                      my father and mother present
                          I will carry my mother's purse
                                                 wear my aunt's
                                    earrings
                             take a camera for all the events
                                  a portable electric toothbrush
                                          smiles are important
                                             white ones.
                                       on this your wedding day,
                                              dear Em.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Out in the Fresh Air

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Tuesday 30 August 2011

A Wedding Wand for Anita from Ann !

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Anita poem

In truth
  the ball bounces
     the baby cries
         the leaf falls
               the gardener mows
                     the hours fly
              butter melts
                        so does sky.       


Anita Schiffman Holzberg 

In the Journal of Journals - Anita Holzberg

In the journal of journals
  I write over 30 poems
        sky= high August
             riding out the waves
                   of many months of no waves
                          just plain plain

                  Life is a little about climbing ladders
                        until you reach that big batch of sky.
                                    

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Poem by Anita


I write a piece of music
  Picchu hears it
     She approves
How wonderful to have a cat that approves
  of me
I searched my whole life for approval
And this fer-rel tuxedo cat approves me
   unconditionally
          a few meows here and there
    a bowel of Friskies
                   she is not a fussy cat
                            and she is cool
              sits like Buddha on the rug
                          just chills.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Visions of the Wedding Party - a few days ahead - Anita Holzberg


Visions of the white wedding gown, blue groom men's shirts, black bridesmaid dresses with blue sashes
     I write a piece of music
         the music is in sync with the harmony
                      of the hour
                             Mazel Tov's are in the air
                                       catch them
                                                  everywhere. 




Monday 29 August 2011

And there was Jewelry... Anita Holzberg


Trying on the jewels


      Spread out they were
              my jewels
                  pearl collar,
                        earrings of silver,
                            a bracelet vintage of rust and gold


                      There they were
                               just asking to be worn


                                my friend Carol came down
                   with her own collection
                                  sparkles and bling in a plastic bag
                                           (just in case)


                    With careful trying on
                                     the jewelry sorted itself out
                                         brass gold tone necklace 
                                                 brass gold tone and silver earrings
                                                              a smoky topaz ring


                                           a Mother of the Bride's statement
                                             for her daughter
                                                 
          For the jewelry maven,
               it does not get any better than this!

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

I Wait - Anita Holzberg


I wait
  whipped cream dreams
     tissue paper wanderings
            ribbons of hope
                     rise
     in the early morning's sunrise 


Fire & Ice - Anita Holzberg



I walk now
  compromised
       its showtime


Fire and Ice
  the ice helps
    the fire rages in my 
          knee and leg


"Family first, "Rachel said


I heed the call.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

    

Wish List - Anita Holzberg

A Wish list
  that stayed in a dresser drawer
        along with my reams of poetry


Now the drawer opens
   happiness
         joy
             bliss


my daughter's wedding
   high on that wish list!

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Sunday 28 August 2011

So I close the Book - Reflections before the Wedding


So I close the book
   open a door
      feel the cool air streaming


So I close the book
   not look back
       how hard is that?


Expectations can kill


Life lessons learned


   I heard a bird sing
         my Picchu cat came in from the cold
                     Leaves fall in the garden
                             a fountain floats 
                                   paper ships ride by
                                         with notices of promise.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Friday 26 August 2011

In The Waking - Anita Holzberg


In the waking
  I make a cup of coffee
      home grown Kona
              I hold the cup care-
                          fully
   as I hold this life
          the glass half-full

                volunteers come to help for the wedding

       the curtain of humanity flows over my shoulder
                 
                    in the waiting
                           dreams filtrate
                                 the stage opens
                                          a bride arrives
                     my daughter the budding flower
                                                    of the hour.


Anita Schiffman Holzberg 

Thursday 25 August 2011

A Poem by Anita


As a writer 
  I take my stance
      buckle up 
           ride the wild ride
                     intensify madness
                           bow to sadness
                               exfoliate the past as the
                                     present dances like silver moons

Was It? - Anita Holzberg


Was it the shitake mushrooms
   sauteed in white onions
or the BV Coastal Estates wine
      or the vanilla cupcakes
          that came after the
 blueberry/tangerine and whipped
              cream dessert?


             Or was it the conversation
                 3 women in their
                       60's, 70's and '80's
                            


                  Gathered  in together
                        3 women ( A German, A Chinese, A Jew)
                                 so different in culture
                                           alike in attitude
                                 the night sings with their conversation
                                              such a sensation!
                                

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Seated Here - Anita Holzberg



This poem was first in a film about Aunt Bern's life and love of fashion -




Seated here 
  You in your rose sweater set
Your Bernice smile
   Hair shining


I will remember these moments
  when I poured my heart out to you
   And you listened.


My parents long gone over 20 years
You and Uncle Nate
A gem in my life
Sparkling for all eternity


Uncle Nate
Talking quickly
Hesitating as his mind ahead of his speech
A quick mind and full heart


Coming home
  it's always wonderful
Coming home


Plafskys are warm and fun loving
This is as true as the rose is red
As the sun is up in the sky
As the mountains encompass the horizon


True blue family
Doesn't get any greater than this!

Anita Schiffman Holzberg
At the Plafskys August 17, '11

Monday 22 August 2011

Small Messages - Anita Holzberg


Instant messages
       I hear them all
           small voices
                 You sat in your wheel chair
                        in a group class
 I brought the Starbucks
       You thanked me
           You kissed me goodbye on the lips
                    and said
              "I love you, too."

                       Small messages can make a life
             can be the singing forth of a life
                    You are on the road to getting well.

                  Not a small message.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Sunday 21 August 2011

Thank You Anita!xx



No,
 the California fog does not encompass me
      the cool weather of summer that never happened
               does not thrill me
Chances are
   I will never have that time again
         where I opened my heart
              and they listened


Life has its ups and downs
  that visit was
    up up and away.


Anita Schiffman Holzberg

I Will always Remember - Anita Holzberg

I will always remember
  the den
        the two lounge chairs

I will remember the caregivers from
  Ghana
     bright pretty nurturing women

I will remember you looking at me
    as I walked into the room
            your eyes shining

What is it about New Jersey?
   My culture is here
      I walk back and it is so familiar

My cousin Joanna laughs
  Abe finds her fat free and gluten free

Comments around a glass table
   3 film makers and a poet

I will always remember Uncle Nate's good bye
  His blessing for Emily and our family

I will be more grounded after this visit
  Coming home
          the world opens up
              the day ends
Your faces close to my heart
               for my entire life
A lifetime of loving
               I made the trip to tap into this energy
                             this love.


Anita Schiffman Holzberg 

Bright Faces - Anita Holzberg


Birds fly by
  the incandescent rain
        lightning storm
                  New Jersey
August in New Jersey
      rain and lightning
It held off
  knew that I was going the next day


In the storm
  I faced the unknown fear
       of arriving home
          and everyone would be gone


Not so,
  Aunt Bern and Uncle Nate
      very much there
 The choice words I chose
  flowed like a ribbon
    your face
             that Bernice smile
will light my morning and evening


Uncle Nate your thoughtful comments
   your words after a mind going so strong
            at 94, I saw you and heard you


The lightening storms did not come in the day


   I take my airplane
         it is over
              a visit steeped in loving


                  Your bright faces
                                    your comments
             I will remember.



Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Surprise Elements = Anita Holzberg


Surprise elements
   I was at a table with 3 filmakers
         I was in a movie,
            speaking memories about my Aunt
I sat in the den
   and read my poem
      she held my hand as I was reading it

Touching moments
     Aunt Bern in her teal jacket
        blooming at 90.


Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Saturday 20 August 2011

Coming Home - Anita Holzberg



There is no pang
  arriving in San Francisco airport
     The shuffle to get off the plane
                a mad surge
   There was and always will be the pang
                 in my heart for New Jersey
After all I am a Jersey girl

            Had my druthers
                  I still be in the Garden State

            Coming home
                      my bed so wonderful
                          little Picchu comes in
                                a neighbor stops by
                             mail and packages
                                     how I love packages
                          the tote bags for the wedding arrived

               Coming home
                        Starbucks coffee
                              and daughter Em speaks
                                          Owen and I have a 15 minute
                                                   conversation
                                          the best ever!

                          Coming home
                                             the seeds of nature are calling
                                                       Sunnyvale
                                            my flowers blooming
                                                 I have walked the walk
                                               I have seen the faces and
                                                              heard their voices
                                            The conversation we had will last
                                                   for all eternity
                                                          I am back
                                               with a richness and blessing for Emily's wedding
                                                         back.

                        Anita Schiffman Holzberg 


                      

Thursday 18 August 2011


Instead - Anita Holzberg




In stead of running
  I walk
    the weight on my shoulders gone

Instead of complaining
  I talk
    my Aunt and Uncle listen

Instead of whinning
  I am at peace

My knee and leg compromised
  I deal
because every minute on this earth is
  precious
    not to squander
      not to complain
        others have it worse.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg
Short Hills, NJ

Monday 15 August 2011

Nothing Matters - Anita Holzberg


Nothing matters
except blueberries and whipped cream
except home grown tomatoes
and cherry pie
and roasted portabello mushrooms
eggplant to go
cherry off the stem

I have tasted them all
like life I had a real run
keep on running
the poems flow like cream
and sew like silk thread
this is my greatest gift
this is my greatest gift.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg
August 13, '11

for Isabelle

ESL At The Sauna - Anita Holzberg

At the sauna 24 hr. Fitness
A woman voiced her opinion
what is different than whole or all
Can you say whole people
whole day busy
Can you use all for the same things?

So difficult to explain
We sat there over 10 minutes
friend in the sauna heat
telling her what is right or wrong
frustrated she left

In the course of that
I remembered how difficult it was to teach
English to adults
I left that and found children twice as easy

In the course of that
the whole sauna helped her

We live in the multi cultural area
this is a multicultural world
even in the sauna.


Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Friday 12 August 2011




Small visits - Anita Holzberg

Just another visit
crisp white T shirt
grey pants
sleeping in a wheelchair
in the dining room
Just woke up
eyes sharp as a tack
they always were
A 8 minute visit
ends with a Kiss on the lips

Life is about small visits
a tap in
a tap out
I like to say we are making progress
Jim has come back full circle
there is singing in his face
a joke in his speech
in my heart, also
I have come back too!
This is the greatest Love Story!

Thursday 11 August 2011

Sky Begets Sky - Anita Holzberg

In the scheme of things
sky begets sky
the robin sings twice
once for Emily
once for Jim
I wing to the East coast Monday
all packed
ahead of time
focused,
pain persists like a knife
I wash my hair
the hair is the right
length and color

I cannot contain
my excitement for the wedding
and the bride to be
is doing well, really well.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Saturday 6 August 2011

Nine Lives - Anita Holzberg

Nine lives
If I had nine lives like Picchu
the first life I would address my health
the last life I would live solely for my children
time moves
August 4th
a month from today
I take this time, this morning time to reflect
on mothering
I do not always know what it is about
I do it well
this I know.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

In the Scheme of Things - Anita Holzberg

In the scheme of things
wedding plans refine themselves
the time is approaching
the bride is more beautiful than imagined
her brightness about the life she leads
comes in
in her every move
kindness is the characteristic
kindness flows like the river right
the river white
comes in in these days
I touch a leaf
I pinch myself a little
this is the bliss
mother and daughter listening to each other
this is what I always wanted
I did want to be involved in this wedding
I am the mother of all mothers
doing what mothers do
standing by

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

The Route of Kindness - Anita Holzberg

If riding the tide
kindness comes in
Jim acknowledges me
puts his hands on my waist
jokes
that glint in his eye

Karl, my professor of water aerobics
hugs me
tells me twice a week
or else all fails

In the scheme of things
love walks in
a vibrant friend from the past
joins me for lunch in
an Italian restaurant
the waiter brings our cappuccinos
and dessert wine for free
the magic between friendship begins again

So many times I have walked this road
never noticing that path towards love
that route of kindness

If bliss is this
I have found it
mold it hold it forever
dreams are made of this
they really are.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Thursday 4 August 2011

Poem by Anita


20 years almost since my divorce
20 years not communicating
Now in the heat of the wedding
Mother and daughter emerge as a team
The goal is to get there
Walking is compromised but better
Walking her down the aisle my greatest motivation..........
Waltzing into 3 weeks to go,
the bride rushes to finish
the mother of the bride rushes too
our goal is the same
we will cross that finish line
together.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg

Monday 1 August 2011

Life has its amenities - Anita Holzberg

Life has its little upsets and amenities
I walk on ducks' feet
my legs compromised
I must get better for the wedding
for NJ
time is the great healer
time is on my side
and water exercise and physical therapy.

Anita S. Holzberg

Poem by Anita

A tuxedo cat
named Picchu
owns the house
after her daily trips to the yard and back
a fer-rel cat
who learned to love and trust
after 4 years

She walks on angel's feet
her paws touch the ground and carpet and
then some.

Anita Schiffman Holzberg