Judy Oliver
1 Poem

“Schadenfreude”

embers catapult skyward
like mortarboards at graduation
soaring mixing raucously
with yells and cachinnation

tenacity and long held dreams
roll through fractured casements
billowing hovering
over burning buildings

rioters launch molotov cocktails
setting ablaze all within range
reveling in noisy explosions
glare of flames

like ravaging bulldozers
individuals leave destruction
callous of those ruined
for pleasure

emboldened by
others’ misfortunes
crush
flickering empathy

After retiring from teaching elementary and middle school, Judy Oliver joined a poetry group that was offered by LifeVentures Adventures in Learning; Roy Beckemeyer was the leader. Those weekly writing and critique sessions encouraged her to try different poetic forms.