Lindsey Wheeler: Concrete Slab

Before starting kindergarten, Lindsey wrote story books, which consisted of poorly drawn pictures and a few words held together by tape. In first grade, she received the "Quickest Composer as an Author" award, wrote a play that her third grade class performed, started her own newspaper The Fairy Tale Times, and wrote adventure stories. In high school she wrote for the Kewanee Star Courier and reported on city council meetings, special events, and on Annawan School highlights. In 2006, Lindsey received her B.A. in mass communications, public relations and marketing from Concordia University in Wisconsin where she also served as the editor of The Beacon. Much of Lindsey's writing today is grant requests, press releases, and promotional pieces, but in her free time she enjoys crafting a poem or short story. Lindsey currently has the best job as MWC's Board Administrator.

As Lindsey said in her conext statement, "Before 'hitting the ground running,' I like to start my day drinking coffee out in my backyard on my concrete slab. I try to use this time to sort out and plan my day, but I often get distracted."

The white space in her poem enhances the subtle sounds and movements, and the interruptions of the speaker’s morning meditation of what to do today.

Concrete Slab

It catches the neighbors’ first conversations of the day;

the hums and honks on 19th street;

the slow dance of a spoon

stirring, clinking the sides of her cup;

and realizes her many unheard plans as they transpire.

But her careful mental arrangement of the day

interrupted by…

slow,

warming sips

and a breeze

carrying

Fall.

A new union- so it’s still welcome.

Never mind the goose bumps, she takes in a lungful.

The trees’ reaching branches don’t seem to mind either

letting out a soothing, accepting sigh,

surrendering a few orange and crimson leaves as a peace offering.

Sprinkling the yard with autumn’s paper-thin gems,

hoping to coax the sun to stay honest for a little longer.

Meanwhile oblivious and unflappable squirrels perform
their acrobats on the hodge-podge fence

only further derailing her train of thought and
leaving her coffee cold.