Blue Heaven
After Mediterranean, a painting by Nicolas de Stael (France, b. Russia) 1952
Activated by water, redeemable stamps became the taste
of our household in the mid-sixties. We’d lick, then stick
thousands of postage-stamp-size pieces into booklets.
Completed Gold Bond pages meant drives to Diamond
Lake SuperValu where Mom would trade them for Blue
Heaven place settings. Made by Royal China, the plates
were imprinted with an abstract design, alive with the
interplay of color. Rectangular blocks and various shapes
of blue and gray created a medley of motion. I’d visualize
clouds and sky, and sometimes swimming pools, especially
on hot days. The cups were solid blue, formed to hold
an ocean of coffee. As Mom poured splashes of sunshine,
my sea of inner fancy smiled as the stir of familial chat
swirled around each cup. Decades later, my mind drifts
to the golden age of life at that kitchen table, suspending
between the quiet rhythm of licking stamps and the lively
sounds of voices as they’d sip Swedish egg coffee from
Blue Heaven cups.
Waves of memory
affixed like stamps on paper
a palette of light
Jeannie E. Roberts has authored nine books, seven poetry collections and two illustrated children's books. Her most recent full-length poetry collection is titled On a Clear Night, I Can Hear My Body Sing (Kelsay Books, 2025). She finds joy spending time outdoors and with loved ones.