Rochelle Ratner
Rochelle Ratner (rratner@idt.net) has been writing fiction most of the past decade. She's also an editor, soon-to-be anthologist, and prolific reviewer. Every so often, despite her being totally unprepared and usually overtired, a poem pops out.
Editor's Note: Although I'm not sure it's at all necessary, Rochelle included a note which explained that the following are, basically, edited but otherwise unaltered postcards, with pictures, with occasional insertions of Rochelle's own, marked with square brackets--"[]".
July 28, 1907
Fourth Lake,
Adirondack Mountains, N.Y.
(the usual picture)
Dear Leah,
I am as lonely today
as I was a year ago.
I am not caring for anything.
>From Edith
and on the other side:
(continued from Edith's card)
she knows by this time
whether the girls are any relation
to ex-governor Pennypacker.
There are now three kinds
of things in this house
Pennypacker, Penny
& I won't write what
I was going to.
My unseen friend just now
said don't.
He always says don't to Edith
and then she don't
only she does sometimes.
Aunt H. is so old fashioned
and full of laugh
that I must get the camphor to chew on
to move my face when I can't laugh.
My thoughts are continued.
Emma S.
------------------
April 9, 1909
Easter Greetings
Thought you might enjoy flowers
when you come here early this summer --
we are planting flower seed
on the kitchen table
but in boxes.
Lovingly,
Nettie Waite.
------------------
December 2, 1910
heartiest greetings
[see --
the flowers thrive,
pink roses on
the envelope or package,
a pink ribbon around it]
Dear Leah --
Wish I was there
with you today.
The roads are so bad
for one horse I am afraid
we won't make it over there
this winter.
I am still looking for your letter.
I was up to Flora's yesterday.
She wasn't very well.
I suppose Jim & Nellie
were married last night.
John Knapp was also married
last week.
When are you coming over?
Please write me a long letter.
Love. Mabel.
------------------
May 3, 1911
[a gold-bordered card
with a single rose,
two buds (one broken off)
and gold thorns]
Best Wishes
Suppose you have been
looking for a letter
long ago
I wanted to write
but seemed I couldn't
find time
Roy is up again,
goes out a little.
The nurse left last Sat.
was here three weeks
Dr. Finney was here yesterday
and fumigated the room.
Your sister,
Harriet
------------------
Postmark:
Feb. 20, 1912
Lancaster, Pa.
Dear Leah,
received your card.
was glad to hear from you
I am well & happy
oh we are so busy
over church, you know.
Hope you are well
by this time.
Just think I am
on my third double end warp
it's that fine I can hardly
see anything at all.
Don't get scared
I don't think that at all
I know you would feel slided
if you would not get a treat
of then ha ha.
Oh. Minnie is out
clearing palings this eve
pretty cold for that job
let her enjoy herself
I was young too
and will do the same thing
over again. Your friend
Emma
------------------
Westminster, Pa.
June 5, 1912
Hello Leah
I bin going to rite you
I have bin bissey cleaning up house
I hope you are well and home
how did you get along at the hospiddle
you said you had to be operated.
Let me heare from you
I am awfull sorry to heare it
I am well and hope you are the same
with love to you and rite soon
always glad to hear from you.
The carde looks like you.
Ella M. Smith
------------------
Leah from Edith, 1912
Good Luck
and Good Health
in the New Year
Dear Leah,
this is Sunday morning,
and it gives me great pleasure
to write a few lines
to each of my dear girls
in the snow-crowned hills
of Graham farm.
I wish so often
that your home was nearer mine,
that we could just walk over
and see one another.
Mother said the other day
she wished she lived near your house.
I asked her why.
She said so I would get
another basket of things.
She forgets most everything
but that she remembers.
Today one year ago
our dear Helen was lying asleep
not to waken again till the voice of God
calls her.
Many happy years to you. Edith.
Harrisburg, December 29th
--------------------------
January 24, 1918
Dear Cousin Lillie
Well Leah this is winter weather
we are having. It has been
a long time since I saw you.
We are well and hope you are
the same.
Sister would like to know
if those two Brubaker women
-- old maids they were --
still work at the silk mill.
She would like their address.
If you know will you please write
and tell me. They sold cushions.
Your Cousin
Clara B.G.
--------------------------------------------
Postmark:
April 13, 1930
May this be a glad
Easter for you it
is not a very bright
one for me. But am glad
for the One who arose from
the grave on this day.
F.
P.S.:
Had your card ready to send
when your greeting came
to me. Am so sorry for dear
Harriet.
-----------------------------------------------
March 6, 1948
Columbia, S.C.
a black & white picture
of the state capitol building
Dear Aunt Leah & U. Walter
I know I have neglected writing
but I have been quite busy
working at Walgreen's
& playing music.
am not playing as much
as I was.
I get $25 a week
& off anything
I buy in the store.
Your nephew,
Horace.
------------------------------------------
July 25, 1955
Shannee-on-Delaware
Dear Cousin Leah,
Surely did enjoy
your visit with me.
A friend of mine
drove me up to the
Poconos last evening.
Crowded with Tourists.
We went to a Fireman's
Carnival, took (3)
chances on a Car.
Wish me luck.
Glad you got home O.K.
I have three eggs in Beet sauce.
With love, your cousin,
Dorothy
Rochelle Ratner