As I stare at Medicare eligibility across the inch of months instead of the abyss of decades, I think not of promotions missed or the overtime not worked, but of people unmet and conversations I didn’t have.

The recent passing of Clark Countian Mary Pat Shely at age 95 reminded me of this.

Shely, whom I did not know, was a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol during World War II, a Kentucky Open Fencing Champion (1956), a former college teacher and tennis coach, a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Columbia University and a poet.

At the time of her death, Shely had owned and farmed Kettle Spring Farm since 1963. Those are the facts.

The stories she might have shared are what I missed.

As an arts columnist, my interest is in Shely’s poetry. I too have had some poems published, though not a book of them.

I had never heard of Shely’s book, “The Thorns Cut Deeply” (Banner Press, 1953) because, well, that happened before my time began; I wasn’t born until 1955.

It was before the time of many of us.

So, as a salute to the unknown or unappreciated talents of those whom we see, perhaps daily, but do not know let me share a few of Shely’s poems from “The Thorns Cut Deeply.”

Rebirth

The rich, rich earth

Is my body,

The trees, the skies

And swiftly running waters

My dreams.

Dreams … spring from my body

Nourishing one another.

Leaves of passion

Falling from the trees

Are love letters

From an old love to a new love,

Strange, wildly growing flowers

Feel it all … as they reach up

To embrace the falling leaves.

And the soft gray stones

Are content,

Serene with the sureness

Of security,

In the warmness of firm, green mosses.

The waterfall splashes and rushes

To the waiting depths

Of a seeking stream.

They meet with disturbed excitement

Then absorbed … they become one,

Flowing on, sharing greater rivers,

And greater dreams.

Mathematics

Some people can two and two

And always get four —

Some people can add two and two —

And never get anything!    

Late afternoon

Golden Clouds

Boiling up from the horizon,

Beautiful masses,

Imprisoning the sunlight.

Whose conversations, stories or poems are you missing out on?

Event coming up include:

— Harry Potter Trivia: Meet up at the Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mount Sterling from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 31 to celebrate the wizard’s birthday with an evening of family fun and trivia. Call 498-6264 for more information.

— Last Chance to See Elvis: A new comedy, “Breaking Up with Elvis,” by Kentucky playwrights Margaret Swim and Robby Henson closes at Pioneer Playhouse in Danville July 20, after a 10-performance run. Get your tickets to discover what happened when Elvis Presley died days before his Rupp Arena concert in 1977. For tickets and more information, call 236-2747.

— Outdoor Sculptures at Ashland: Three large sculptures by Kentucky native and artist John Henry are now on the grounds of the Henry Clay Estate, Ashland, in Lexington. One can see the sculptures called La Tour (50 feet tall), Publisher (60 feet tall) and Roche Du Diament (13 feet tall and 20 feet long) by walking the estate’s grounds. If you are a yoga aficionado, the sculptures will be a part of the site’s free weekly yoga sessions at 11 a.m every Sunday. John Henry will be at Ashland to discuss his art at 11 a.m. Aug. 3. At that time, several hand-signed posters will also be available for purchase.

Bill McCann is a playwright, poet, flash fiction writer, and teacher who writes about arts events and personalities. Reach him at wmccann273@gmail.com.