CHERYL MAGNUSON

My Rag Doll, Terry

We didn’t have money for a fancy doll,

But I loved my rag doll, Terry.

Passed down three generations

from auntie to older sister to me.

My daughter loved her for 18 years.

I’ve repaired Terry’s cloth skin,

Embroidered a new face

and twice replaced her yellow yarn hair.

Now she is eighty years old and sits in my rocking chair

Enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Musicians perform at Arts in the Park.
This photo from the Redmond Historical Society Collections is currently unidentified.

Anderson Park Performance

The first time I played my clarinet

at Anderson Park

I wore a long hippy-style skirt.

The hot sun beat down on us.

I was scared spitless.

And then a yellow jacket landed

on my sandaled foot,

and crawled up my leg.

I kept right on playing.

I didn’t even squeak.