The View From Over Here
Poems
By Alba DiBello and Ed Ryterband
Kelsay Books 2026
It was a love of poetry that brought two octogenarian neighbors together as close friends. But it was the sharp wit, inherent talent, and great wisdom of the duo that led to their first book together, “The View From Over Here. ”
Shrewsbury residents in the over 55 private home community in the borough, it is because of that friendly community they describe as “unlike a small torn or university in that there are no organic roots running deep,” that Alba DiBello and Ed Ryterband were able to meet, discover a joint love of poetry and start a Poetry Club so others could also enjoy the fun of reading and listening to, not only writing, poetry.
At the monthly club meetings, the pair listed poems they could share with members, and all found that reading out loud brought them not only a lot of fun and laughter, but also surprise learning new things and how often they disagreed in their opinions.
From there, they gave more thoughts to the private poems each was writing themselves, then the idea of a collaborative effort just for the fun of it. The result: The charming and provocative “View” in poetry form.
The book was released this month and is a collection of poems the authors wrote giving their view of the world “from the perch of old age.” The compilation of free verse poetry looks back as well as to the present times in their lives and their different observations from their individual points of view. Divided into chapters related to crossroads in their lives, such as Alba’s “Rock in the Garden or Ryterband’s “Butterfly Tiime, or Body Parts, which include an incredibly descriptive and delightful series of memories by Alba while ironing and the thoughtfully reminiscent Big Boys’ poem of Ed’s memories brought up by a visit from his grown up sons, the book is deep enough and profound to grasp everyone’s attention.
But it is especially must reading for every person wondering about life as they get older, as they look back on careers, lives, events, and both good and bad memories and wonder what the future holds for them.
Ryterband is a standup comic and psychologist whose work in poetry have appeared in several publications, including a local newspaper as well as the Patterson Literary Review and US1 Worksheets and New Verse News. He has four collections of poetry from Kelsey Publishing, and one of them, Rain Witness, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2022. He is currently working on another memoir, Who They Were, the story in poetry about life under the influence of his immigrant parents.
DeBello, an educator and founder of a school for children as well as NJEEPRE, a professional organization for teachers, is a long-time student of poetry, beginning with Zoom workshops mentored by another local poet, Nan Bryan. A published author in other fields,, this is her first published book in poetry, and she is now looking forward to another work on her own, Her poetry has appeared in US1Worksheets and Paterson Literary Review and she has read her poetry at River Road Open Mic in Red Bank.
The authors admit, and it shows in their poetry, that they are distinctly different in their voices and inspiration, with Ryterband favoring Stephen Dunn and DiBella leaning towards Emily Dickinson.
As far as favorite of all her poetry in the 115-page book? Alba DiBello said such a question is liking asking a grandparent to pick a favorite grandchild.
But, she adds wisely, “Once a poem is out there- it belongs to the reader and that is another form of letting go … which is probably the most important lesson of the “long lived” as we are.”
The book is fun, interesting, unique, and filled with wise words from two very smart neighbors in their 80s.
The book is available from the authors, at local bookstores, or on line at Amazon
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