Summertime

streaming sun
through the open window
honeysuckle
 
sweet nectar poisons
the bright reflection

summer garden flight
the red breasted bird
thirsting

unsatisfied it retreats
a lazy cat yawns
 
Schoolyard
Children are free
for the afternoon game                
sunset brings
the ball to a lonely stop

By: April Staley, Kassie Knoll, Brandon Brenneraa

Her hands
she looks at the signs
of years passed

Daughter’s smile
brightening the lens

Birthday wishes
At the beginning
of a long journey

Church bells
He gives her hand to him

Crowded house
The tiny being
joins the choru

The circle of life
Is complete.

          by Shirley Staley & friends

This Is It

child cries
in the night
mother embraces

tears and pain
all around

devastation in the world
we have
to help fix it

cries of hunger
trapped in our misery

stars pitch in
shining
in the night

following a legacy
we are the world

a rengay by Tammy Maxwell, Bekah Maxwell,
Jay Maxwell, Andrew Bruce and Tori Richards

with this ring
a new family
comes to life

loneliness fades into the shadows
as bonds are made

once empty rooms
--and hallow walls
echo sounds of joy

joining of two
bind sisters of three
sealed with a kiss

time marches quickly
sisters depart

what once was five
reverts to two
me and you

by Don & Tina Olszewski

barn loft
come out, come out
giggles
 
footsteps echo
from stables below
 
brisk breeze
the aroma of hay
floats in the morning
 
breakfast time
a shrill whistle
pierces the winter air
 
pressure builds on the railed tracks
suddenly the locomotive blows its stack

illusions broken
playtime done
schedules to keep

by haiku students: Sandy Fitzgerald and Tina Olszewski

Weekend remodel
A day at the most
Turns into two months

Husband tried and failed
Hopes diminish,

Yellow page walk through
Budget too small
Husband rehired

Sigh of resignation
Husband’s pride tested
Paint hides many sins

Too bad it can not hide
All of them

Finished at last
Rest and relax?
Drip! Drip! Drip!

          by Sandy Fitzgerald and Bob Fitzgerald

Challenges

mothers’ at home
students’ at school
careers in our future

Studying….
all we ever do

haiku to write
children to raise
this is how we spend our days

dinner to fix
dishes to clean
stories to read

backpacks to carry
projects are due

frustrating computer
research to do
someday we’ll be thru!

by Penny and Holly ( pattern : A3, B2, A3, B3,A2,B3 )

Laziness

burned poptarts
saturday morning
laziness

home alone
quiet house

kids visiting other kids
dogs nap
going about my day

mailman comes
silence broken
hound dogs sing in sync

checking the mail
tossing envelopes aside

leaving bills
for another time
I go shopping

by Penny and daughters’
( Kim, Tina, Kellie) 3,2,3,3,2,3

lightning flashes
thunder crashes
the sound of little feet

A quiet voice-
“mommy and daddy, I’m scared”

as the storm approaches
our “twosome”-
becomes three

calming fears
reassuring faith
a kiss on the cheek

as the storm rolls away…
a gentle snore from little lips

as I cradle my “baby”
thoughts of peace
wash over me

by Shellie & Don

music swells
the bride breathes deep
doors open

he breathes a sigh of relief
she came!

their eyes meet
she moves forward
toward their future

scent of fresh cut flowers
white roses-
red bow

wedding rings sparkle in the sun
exchanging promises

ceremony complete
two hearts joined-
a journey begins

          by Shellie & Kurt Hubner

Sunday afternoon
cool breeze blowing
for the love of the game.

Silence is broken
Fans are cheering loudly

Rooster crows
Feed gets opened
Back to work again

The Sun sets
stars in the sky
waiting for sunday again

Rainy afternoon
whistle blows
Here we go again

Mud on the shoes
Adrenaline rushing
Its game time again.

          by Mike Rose & Tracy

By your side

without a friend in the world
the child wonders
why.

a mother
reassures her child of the future

Hopeful for change
the child
opens his mind…

misery and sadness
tries to
make it’s way in.

the mother takes
the child by the hand

he now sees
the correct path
and can see the future.

by Megan Smith & Destany Sharp

Take Me Out

sultry summer day
with a cold drink
Batter Up!

a single bead of sweat falls
the crack of a wooden bat

eyes filled with wonder
gasps in the air
beer spilled down my back

fast moving thundercloud
swallows the blue sky
a wet t-shirt

water puddles ripple
as children play

twilight moon-
the long road home
with passengers asleep

          by Monica Edwards and Luke Burket

Our Day

the glimmer in his blue eyes
radiates emotion
for the future

worlds colliding
two become one

October afternoon
vibrant flowers bloom
inside and out

beauty of nature
one to awe over
links unbreakable

the happiest moments now
‘til death do us part

with god’s blessing
the joy and memory lasts forever
family celebration

    by Monica Edwards and Eric Reynolds

choices

blooming flower
covered in snow…
refuses to be defined

pink petals soar -
path of destruction

targets shunned as the
machine gun sprays…
unable to be restrained

silver bullets sparkling -
moon blanketed in clouds

flashing ostentatiously
the firefly in the spring rain…
incapable of being controlled

darkness ascends upon me
I have no regrets

          by Kassie Knoll and Alisha Boney

summertime

streaming sun
through the open window
honeysuckle

sweet nectar poisons
the bright reflection

summer garden flight
the red breasted bird
thirsting

unsatisfied it retreats
a lazy cat yawns

Schoolyard
Children are free
for the afternoon game

sunset brings
the ball to a lonely stop

     by Kassie Knoll, April Staley, and Brandon Brenner

Changes of Love

Sunday morning
church bells ring
in bloom
 
            trying to raise a man
            in spite of his father..
 
magic hour
father and son
build a fort
           
            trees in the forest
            strong against the wind
 
moment of truth
the leaves crackle
with footsteps
 
            hand in hand
            filled to the brim

      by Bridget Beal, Alexis King and Katy Price

Always Close

Trail
I walk
with my protector

four legged friend
always near

brown eyes
the one I tell
secrets

thunder and lightning
the rain pours down

listening
for the sound
sirens

safe from all
in your arms

          by Katy Price and friends

The Road

a journey begins
the long highway
leads me again

perspective on the world
seen through clear glass

the strangers I pass-
each of them having
a path of their own

alone-
reflections on life

bellowing
the wrong lyrics
to an unfamiliar song

at last, my trip ends…
but the road goes on

          by Kelli Davis and Bill Bangtson

Seeking

dark spring night
full moon rising
over a forest clearing

flowing like water
his feet drag along the grass

the luna moth
glides low
red eyes amid green

reflections of moonlight
an eager beak
soon to be full

cold wind clips sleek feathers
blood sprays his arrow hits its mark

warm campfire
one hunter eats tonight
another finds its mate

          by Luke Burket and Rick Murphy

hot red embers
from the fireplace
deep dark secrets

midnight rendezvous
time ceases to exist

two lovers meet
pulses racing
hearts pounding

bright neon moon
lighting up the sky
the only witness

trying to remember
the reason for this tryst

a cheating wife
an abusive husband
climactic conclusion

     Don Gardner & friend

painful knee
lump...
could it be a tumour?

so worried
waiting for a call

clunck...boom...cries
loud noises
sounds of a machine

selfish employer
no one understands
life of a mother

unconditional love
children come first

prayers....
dearest friends
how can we help

          by Holly & friend

tulips in bloom
in her pink dress
she smiles for the camera

sunny blonde hair
she loves her mother’s pearls

soft breeze
she gallops through
then green grass

five baby bunnies
scatter like dice

the apple tree
she’s always searching
for one without the worm

shiny green ones
oh so yummy

          by Erica & friend

Spring rain
tie my running shoes
anyway

Down the steep stairs
I’m headed for
the door

Step outside
rain droplets on my face

Alone
his steps
no longer with me

I often forget
he is really gone…

A rainbow
I remember
his laugh

         by Megan Smith & Erica Mackling

The Visit

curtain moves
with the breeze
voices from the kitchen

mother and daughter
share a cup of coffee

blonde curls bouncing
on the summer lawn
"Look at me!" he hollers

a smile on both of their faces
their thoughts in different directions

out of the grass
grasshopper appears
the chase is on

cherishing their time together
-sunset

          by Tammy Maxwell, Kelli Davis & Darlene Coffin

The Conversation

sunshine through
the window—
heated words

her reflection in the window
sunbeams brush her hair

an old conversation
new again…
if only for the moment

tension turns to
a gentle caress

a deep, hard sigh
his thoughts…
already straying

a moment of frustration
forgotten by swaying hips

          by Darlene and Jim Coffin

Late Winter Sunday

Mid morning Sunday
She says she’s hungry
Four times

He pulls his jeans on
Late winter shower

The drops bead
The window washed free
Of the season’s season

Inside the door
Spice rich air

His eyes
Caught hers
Catching his

She grieves his trip
And celebrates the return
Of loving

          by Brandon & friend

comfy and cozy
sitting on couch
waiting

the argument starts
what movie shall we watch

opinions breakout
between siblings
getting no where

the lights go out
comfy and mad in bed

the value of family
ask someone
who doesn’t have one

Waiting for a good snore
To watch what I want

          by Bridget & family

Journey

early mornings,
late nights
a father secures their future

she cleans and cooks
never ends brings purpose to her

pulled in different directions
never tired, always hungry
wags his tail as the master walks the walk

a great book to calm the soul
she waits up for love his voice stills calms the air

his heart directs him to destiny
a heavy head a warm lap
loves presence makes day disappear

all children asleep big and small
another day on the job as fulfilling as yesterday.

          by Arthur & Loviedee Hinton

Sunday morning
church bells ring
tulips in bloom

trying to raise a man
in spite of his father

magic hour
father and son
build a fort

trees in the forest
strong against the wind

moment of truth
the leaves crackle
with footsteps

hand in hand
filled to the brim

          by Alexis & classmates

end of plank
look at the horizon
take a step

leaky pirate ship
looking for treasure

island found
beautiful green mountains
hide it’s secrets

vacation in paradise
never going home

twelve hour days
working for the man
when can I retire

time passes quickly
happiness awaits

          by Alexis & family

In the distance

colors from the sidewalk
tell stories
of yester years

darkness of the day
overshadows great potential

The stain that never washed away
moms anger
a warning to walk the line

autumn wind sings a song
the trees dance to it’s melody

a book that tells time
the past well recorded
blank pages for the future

the brightness of the sun comes through a window
and with it peace.

          by Arthur T. Hinton III & Tara Underwood

kitchen floor
spring breeze
scatters the seating arrangements

white countertops
hold poster board projects

anxious palms
recite the words
for the thousandth time

in the distance
sign on a tree
jumping to grab leaves

red ink meets black
making verbs agree

desiring the end
but allowing love
to guide the journey

*This rengay was written about my time here at Millikin in the PACE program and all the help and guidance my boyfriend has given me throughout it all. There have been times I’ve wanted to quit but he has been there to help push me through.

          by April Shirley & Aaron

black cat
searching for spring birds
from the window

gentle breezes
bring in the rain

lingering April breeze
sewing May
sundresses

from the open sill
the great outdoors
beckoning

brushing hair
ready for the world to see

the tomatoes
still green
in the skillet

*We talked about having the theme being “home” and it turned into something really cool about a girl getting ready for the day.

          by April Shirley & Beckah Novak