Poet Profile

Bonnie Stepenoff

Bonnie Stepenoff grew up in the hills of northeastern Pennsylvania and now lives on the west bank of the Mississippi River. She is a mother and grandmother, history professor and writer, and she is passionate about historic preservation.

Books Published: In addition to books of history, she is the author of Big Spring Autumn, a personal memoir, published by Truman State University Press in 2008.

falling star --
ashes dropping softly
through the grate

at the bus station
diesel smoke and my father
smelling of peppermint

hobo fires --
someone has to keep them
flickering

midnight
the last firecracker
fizzles

richest woman in town
watering her garden
in the rain

no rush
to close the kitchen door
against the rain

Credits: "falling star" - Modern Haiku 36:1 (2005); "hobo fires" - Modern Haiku 35:3 (2004); "richest woman in town" - Frogpond 30:3 (2007); "at the bus station" - Modern Haiku 36:3 (2005); "midnight" - The Heron's Nest XI:1 (2009); "no rush" - Frogpond 27:1 (2004)