Heart & Bones

by Sandra Rendig

Sandra Rendig shares the arc of her life through poetry. In Heart & Bones, the reader encounter poems that honor the heritage and proud independence of her Italian parents, the sights and sounds of her childhood home in Sonora, California, and a deep-rooted bond with her husband of 53 years. The natural world with its powerful energy and intriguing beauty weaves throughout her story as she bares the bittersweetness of her current winter season.

Sample Poem:

Woods Lake In July

Oppressive Central Valley heat
dampens skin all morning.
Time to escape, unleash dusty kayaks
hanging in the hot garage,
move to higher ground.
We find the coolness of mountains,
the peacefulness of water,
our kayaks slipping across Woods Lake,
clear, cold and rippled,
surrounded by red fir and white pine,
thickly scented green.
Snow- capped mountains pierce
the clear, blue sky.

Upon cracked and creviced backs
of hulky granite
delicate plants nestle and bloom.
On thin reed tips
mystical dragonflies balance,
lift, hover and zip
above the water’s breath.

The sway of tree tops
amid the silent stone,
the warm sun bouncing brilliant
points of light upon the water—

all this grandeur speaks
like a raven’s call,
urgent and exciting,
wild and wonderful—
rock to river,
mountain to tree,
you to me.
We glide through diamonds
as we paddle back to shore.

Enjoy a video of Sandra reading from her new book:

About the Author

Sandra Rendig was born and grew up in the 1950’s in the small town of Sonora, California, a rural land of hills, trees, and creeks.  The natural world remains a strong influence in her writing.  Her parents, children of Italian immigrants, have significantly influenced her writing.  Many of her poems honor their self-reliance and strong work ethic.  She often writes about the beauty and emotional impact of the changing seasons.  Now that she is 78 years old, several of the poems reflect the passing of her own seasons.

After a 30 year career teaching young children (preschool – 4^th grade), she has been writing poetry for self-exploration, joy and solace.

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