the moon
illuminating the night
understands silent sorrows

Alizarin Salmi

the moon's light
illuminating the room
see silent sorrows

like a night light
the moon
gasping sorrows

like a night light
the moon
captivating our sorrows

illuminating the night
the moon
understands silent sorrows

carrots
my wicker chair gnawed
fluffy white hair

Kailey Hurst

Welcome home
my wicker chair gnawed
children enjoy rabbit stew

Welcome home
my wicker chair gnawed
by the white rabbit

silence
heavy in the household . . .
downpour

Megan McGurr

silence between lovers
a raindrop
glides swiftly down the window

heavy silence
weaving through a full house—
sudden downpour

a downpour
breaks the silence
of a split household

headstones
engulfed in sorrow
surrounded by love

Uriah Walker

a single headstone . . .
surrounded by loved ones
holding their heads in sorrow

my love's headstone
I am engulfed in sorrow
yet uplifted in love

headstones
engulfed in sorrow
she is enveloped in love

headstones
tears pouring in sorrow
but comforted by love

a Christmas surprise
for a little girl
her dream puppy

Emily Mihalkanin

her dream puppy
a Christmas surprise
cries from the box

extra-large box
under the Christmas tree-
the young girl’s present has a tongue

Christmas day
under the tree
puppy surprise

Christmas morning
a moving present
soft whimpering

Christmas excitement
a little girl dreams of a puppy
suddenly a whimper

under the Christmas tree
a puppy
the gift she dreamed of
 
her dream puppy
a Christmas surprise
with cries from the box

a little girl's gift
soft whimpering
Christmas surprise

(no edits selected)

Christmas package
photo of a puppy
the gift she dreamed of

strawberry rows
splashes of RED
all over an innocent face

Hannah Mahr

picking strawberries
splashes of red
on an innocent face

rows of strawberries
splashes of red
covers an innocent face

unmanageable hunger
entices the little girl’s fingers
in a patch of strawberries

strawberry rows
on her innocent face
the red spreads

YMCA
free trees
day before Christmas

Betty Hartnett

Edit suggestions: YMCA’s free trees (move up words from second line)
Parking lot packed (add line)
Christmas Eve (replace “day before Christmas” to” Christmas Eve”)

Another suggestion was to add “the” before “day before Christmas” because it sounds better, more rhythmic.
Because I like the emphasis on the YMCA as a caring organization I prefer the simple addition of “the” to the last line. To give away trees on Christmas Eve is not as charitable; it even may be a selfish act because then they won’t have to dispose of the trees themselves. I like to think that people would be able to get a free tree in time to have it decorated by Christmas Eve. Betty

YMCA
free trees
the day before Christmas

YMCA
free trees
on Christmas Eve

YMCA’s free trees
parking lot packed
Christmas Eve

unclaimed trees
on Christmas Eve
at the YMCA parking lot

backyard dance
soundless words
firefly glows

Heather Dolye

backyard embrace
the soundless words
of fireflies

backyard embrace
the soundless words
of fireflies

backyard dance
two wordless vows
one firefly glow

backyard dance
two lovers soundless
one firefly glows

or

backyard dance
to soundless words
one firefly glows

nimble fingers
pull off the corn skin
teaching the inexperienced

Samantha Bies

experienced fingers
husk the corn
young hands repeat

experienced fingers
husk the corn
teaching the young

aged nimble fingers
pull off the corn husk
a lesson to the new generation

Mom's nimble fingers
husk the corn skin
my little hands

positive vibes
buds reunited
and it feel so good

T.J. Griffin

Las Vegas
buds reunite
and it feel so good