The Ice Storm

a long night at school
two girls look
at the clock

the ice
will come soon

bitter coldness
in the air
branches crackle and break

everyone wants
to get home

the ice starts
families wait
for their loved ones

home safely
just in time!

by Heather Senger
and Lisa Wilder

Dirty July Morning

hot sticky night
damp skin
lovers whisper softly

diamonds from the sky
dancing on the water

boat
gently drifting into the dark
lapping the shore

together, sleeping peacefully
he dreams of sex

her body
united with his
commitment

spoken vows
the sun comes up

by Traci and Wesley
Batchelder (8)

Present Tense

smiling at her
in the dressing room...wishing
she had saved her clothes

same image in the mirror
years earlier

mother and daughter
wearing the same styles
twenty years apart

memories come full circle
bell bottoms

80's music record
familiar in present
leg warmers

driving
her SUV

by Jami Martin
and Traci Batchelder (8)

I really liked this rengay. I totally see it being me and my daughter some day. She is only 4 now, but I am sure by the time she is seven or eight she will be wanting styles I wore and I will just be like “no”. This rengay makes me very happy. It also makes me think about how strong of a bond my daughter and I have. I see lots of colors from the bell bottoms and the 80’s in the haiku. Heather

I really liked this rengay because it reminds me of my mother and me. My Mom’s name is Patty and a lot of people call me little Patty because we look so much alike. She tells me all of the time that I look just like she did when she was my age. Even when I talk to my Aunts on the phone they say that it is scary how much my mother and I sound alike. When I look at old pictures of my mom I really wish that she would have saved some of her old clothes because I would probably wear them. When you stop and think about it, it is funny how much we have advanced in society in some ways, but how some things never change. Nicole

This poem caught my attention because it took me back to my teenage years and the big hair and the mention of the 80’s gives you a complete picture of a style and presence of what was happening when I was fourteen. The poem also brought me to my current life with my daughter and watching her wear clothes that I hate and thought should never come back into style. I can picture my mother and I arguing over some outfit or another in the mall dressing room and the same with my daughter. I think the poem really could appeal across the generations of mothers and daughters. Holly

I like this rengay because it reminds me of my daughters. They like to wear the styles that are popular now, which are the ones I wore. I remember being in a dressing room with my daughters and thinking I wish I would have kept my clothes. It’s fun and full or memories. Sue

This is a memory that is so vivid to me. I see myself shopping with my daughter and all the clothes I hated from the 70’s and 80’s are very popular with the teens today. I am thinking God I didn’t think I would every see these ugly clothes again in my life time. But, unfortunately they are popular items now. I’m thinking to my self, only if I hadn’t thrown away that wardrobe, I could be saving lots of money and really know I am my daughter’s hero. Kecia

The Chase of a Lifetime

lint balls
colors of a rainbow
scattered across the floor

toys everywhere
tossed aside

little girl
and grandpa
time to run and play

giggles in the air
chasing curiosity

a run
    the look
        and the chase is on

moments to catch
     memories to share

by Mike Price
and Jeanne Baietto

There are so many images to see when reading this rengay. I see the sparkly puff balls cats chase around the room. I see the dandelion puffs blowing in the wind as the little girl runs from grandpa. I see that stop and go game so many little ones play begging to be captured but not wanting to be caught. Toys are not needed here. The interaction between grandfather and child is all that is needed to make memories. This takes me back to my own childhood when the outdoors and our imaginations were all that was needed to have fun. Karen

Rengay

afternoon nap
in the bright summer sun
peaceful

by the pool
children splash playfully

pour another margarita
in a beautiful glass
frozen strawberries

please don’t spill it
on my new white shirt

husband kicks off his shoes
he lies next to me
on the hammock

afternoon break
worth the wait

by Nicole Stonecipher (5)

The Travelers

bright sunny days
blue water becomes the sky…
P A R D I S E

tan bodies on the beach
time runs out….pleasure slowly fades

stress is easing back
harried packing
the journey home begins

weary travelers meet
long lines at the airport
anticipation of arriving home

new day dawns
the worlds unchanged

pictures on the mantle
echoes of children’s laughter
memories of days gone by.

by Sue Short
and family (3)

Rengay

silvery frost
on short blades of grass
the sun peeks

through the trees
yellow flag on a stick

childish laughter
as her ball hits
the windmill

shiny cans
line the walk
a bee speeds by

buzz buzzzzzz
in my ear

hit the snooze
now the bee is gone
for ten minutes more

by Jami Martin
and her husband

The Office

sunny spring day
stuck in the office
she gazes out the window

papers piles high
no work done today

cherry blossoms everywhere
fragrance on the air
everlasting sunlight

children run
children play

a humid summer day
the children laugh and giggle
through the streets

a sudden thunderstorm
no more laughs and giggles

by Heather Senger
and Rick Cox

June 25, 2005

it’s my birthday
dinner with family
I accept

daily phone calls
reservations needed

something new
something borrowed
something blue

my little man
all dressed up

fresh new face
one of love
for our commitment

two separate lives
the new Mr. and Mrs.

by Kara and
Shannon Nihiser (8)

A Trio of Souls

boy scouts skiing
on a mountain
two friends are joined by a third

late night talks
while souls draw close

a widow mourns
two mothers
hold out their arms

tears of sorrow
dried through kinship

making memories
laughter joins
three hearts

friendship blossoms
into sisterhood

by Karen McFadin,
Debbie Tucker,
and Linda Wiesner

Precious Moment

I wonder if
can it be true
yes, it's positive

kids exploring
boundaries broken

anticipating and wondering
will picture reveal
yes, Hannah Nicole

children’s daily mess
now home preparation

need more shopping
sizes ever changing
only for a while

always shopping for baby
now waiting

by Kara Nihiser
and Chris Sperry

Rengay

summer heat
beating down
on my skin

the warmth of the sand
underneath my feet

In the distance
the echo of whales
soaring thru the air

sailboats sway
from side to side

the sea stretches
for miles and miles
no land in sight

a vision of heaven and earth
intertwine

by Kecia Wilson-Jackson
and Nicole Stonecipher (5)

This rengay reminds me of a perfect vacation day, with the surroundings of a paradise like setting, using all the senses to enjoy the heat, view, sounds of the island life. Mike

I love summer! I love to be in the sun. There is nothing like the warm summer sun, so long as it isn’t too hot! I also like the feeling of sand under my feet. Particularily warm, wet sand. Although, this haiku takes me to a tropical beach with beautiful white sand. I love dolphins, so I use my imagination in this and replace the whales with dolphins! And then I can actually see them jumping out of the water. Then we bring a whole new picture in by bringing beautiful brightly colored sailboats into the picture. I see bright reds, yellows, greens and blues floating above the water. Now I am on a boat, but not a sailboat, rather the cruiseliner that I will be on in September!! There is no land in sight, but there is the most beautiful clear blue all around. On the horizon is the sun setting, there are white clouds reflected on the water. This is the sign of heaven. Then you can see land slowly appearing in the distance, and this where the earth part comes in.
This rengay, is my future!!! September future! Karissa

The Weekend

rainbows dance on the driveway
mother and son together
wash the car

cool evening breeze blows
the warm fire cracks

seven am
little hands on her arm
time to wake up he says!

the morning sun rises
another day has started

chairs in one arm, cooler in another
son’s soccer game
under the hot sun

rain begins to fall
worries are washed away

by Karissa Lindley
and Craig Fathauer

I love, love, love this haiku! It reminds me of doing day to day things with my kids. It makes me think of how things are more fun, now that I can share them with my children, than they ever were before. Even when things become hectic, if I am doing them with my kids, then it’s not too bad. Jami

April 22

cloudless sky
dawn to dusk
a day with the flowers

she turns on the hose
he runs to hide

chorus of birds
sing and sway
in the trees

child giggles
puppy rolls in the grass

smell of fresh cuttings
and in the distance
the roar of a Snapper

wash up—mom says
     dinnertime!

by Karissa Lindley
and Mike Price (3)

Rengay

Winding road
Boy meets girl
Two soul bonds

Loved you half my life
Lives drift apart

On the journey of forever
Friends and lovers
Travel together as one

Tumbling walls
Between two lovers

A day of sunshine
Best friends say I do
Our dreams at last come true

One day too late
Roaming the desert again

by Kecia Wilson-Jackson

Illinois

Spring day
trees bending in the wind
children playing

sun glare
off the car

A pitcher sweats
as he stares in
batter up

flowers bloom
in every yard

in the Midwest
one can see for miles
the moon rises

walking in the park
kites in the air

by Rusty and Jodee
Johnson

Fourth of July

mid Summer
fireworks
every where

painting faces
carnival rides

a fireman
rests
by his truck

the nighttime
brings out the dark

the smell rises
apple pie
in the window

the sky lights up
colors fill the air.

Rusty Johnson
and Lisa Wilder (7)

I chose this as my favorite because I love the 4th of July. This reminds me of when we go to Monticello on July 3rd to watch the fireworks. It is a tradition for me and my family every year to go. I see the carnival games and painted faces on all the little kids. The kids are running around and having the best of time. My family usually has a big crowd show up and we all sit around and enjoy being with each other laughing and sharing stories from the past. My favorite link is probably the last one. Like I said before I love fireworks and to see the beautiful colors in the air and the amazing ground fireworks display is just awesome. Kara

Offspring Ballet

April wind sends
seedlings twirling downward
nature’s dance

birds are chirping
while building their nest

hummingbirds sing
a golden tutu flitters
across the playground

little girls
chasing the breeze
arms wide open

the sun warms cherub faces
dizzy from their spins

screams
with each fall
mothers cringe

by Sue Short
and Karen McFadin (4)

This ties nature and humans together with never really mentioning them together. First it begins with the seedlings twirling downward from the trees, you can picture the seedlings twirling down with ease and grace. Then it brings in singing birds. Then it goes to the tutu flitter with brings a girls arms open wide twirling, just as the seedling carefree and graceful. Rusty

This is a very clever Rengay. On the surface, I love the subject matter of twirling little girls. My three-year-old daughter is very much into Disney Princesses and Disney Fairies. She has a trunk filled with dress up attire associated with both. She is also in pre-ballet, needless to say this Rengay reflects Lexi-Lu. I can see little girls in their tutu’s dancing around the yard. I love the line “a golden tutu flitters”. I can see it. All of Lexi’s dress up clothes are glittery and sparkly. It has a warm feel to it. Once you dig a little deeper you see the feeling of young ones throughout the Rengay. It makes references to spring, birds building a nest, seedlings, little girls, and cherubs. This is how mothers see their daughters: sparkly, angelic … perfect. Traci