“He was kind,
thoughtful, and funny.
He loved his dog
Buster, the Boy Scouts,
swimming, and
cowboy movies.
He loved hanging out
at Elmer’s garage
and the candy store
in Rosebank.
But he hated
wearing knickers and
he always got sick
on roller coasters,”
Aunt Kay said.
MOM
“Wow, Mom,
congratulations! 26
years of being
a secretary.
What will you do now
that you’re retiring?”
Her brow furrows at my
stupid question. “I’m
going to clear out
the breakfront and do all
those dishes,” she says,
as I stare at her
in bewilderment sitting
there with her arms
folded across her chest.
isbn 1-59661-070-0
56 pages/$9
Some of these poems have appeared in the following journals, both online and in print:
A Little Poetry, Alternative Press Mag, Antimuse, The Beat, Black Creek Review, Blue Collar Review, CER*BER*US, Children Churches & Daddies, Erete’s Bloom, Four Corners, Half-Drunk Muse, Girder, Main Street Rag, Nerve Cowboy, Owen Wister Review, Parting Gifts, Pegasus, Poetpourri (The Comstock Review), White Crow, Urbanus Magazine, Wavelength, and Wormwood Review.
“What I’ve gotten most over the years from Michael Estabrook’s poetry is his acute sense of family, friendship, and the many intricate ways in which we all interact. These excellent narrative snapshot poems, each without any trace of artifice or unnecessary adornment, are further evidence of that same sensitivity to the mystery of the human condition. A beautiful book to be read and passed around to your own family and friends.”
—Glenn Cooper
“I usually love life more after I read the poetry of Michael Estabrook. In They Didn’t Leave Notes, he writes deceptively descriptive poems about the people in his life. Each poem measures just 15 lines long, yet every one reveals a simple truth in much the same manner as a zen koan. Estabrook turns small stories into moments of enlightenment.”
—Charles P. Ries
Michael Estabrook is a baby boomer educated first in the sciences, later studying literature and languages, earning two master’s degrees in comparative literature in Latin and French. More recently he achieved a certificate in communications from Harvard and a Ph.D. in history from Warnborough University in London. He has published 15 poetry chapbooks over the years, the most recent one about his Dad: methinks I see my father. In addition to poetry and literature, Estabrook’s interests include art, music, theater, and opera.