Rengay

lunchtime
at my table
sitting with my friends

chatter all around me
can’t hear myself think

food tastes funny
hope I don’t get sick

turkey looks bad
chose chips instead

stuffing my face
gulping tropicana
snitching food from my friend

hurry to class
without a pass

          by Jane Rieman and A.J. Lang (LSA High School)

A Dog's Pain

during his shower she waits patiently
outside the bathroom door
with a tear he reaches for the aspirin

a very soft whimper
—treattime

rabbit dashes away
branches quiver
with sparrows fluttering commotion

and the chase begins...
through the hole filled pasture

together for one last nap
old man
old dog

man's best friend
—forever

By Barry Cripe and Mary Smith

          by Barry Cripe & Mary Smith

Honor

moonbeams
dusty attic
trimmed in silver

picture of old
generations long gone

standing tall
necklace
of dogtags

life cut short
time moves on

child carries flag
behind
casket of daddy

silence ensues
bugles last note

          by Marcie Holeman

FERMENTED GRAPES

white pickett fence
surrounds their winter home
a cracked foundation

     the walls tremble
     shelves crash

He said, she said, now what...
altered destinies
tears flow freely

     s h a t t e r e d dreams
     torn hearts

fermented grapes—
popping cork
mist swirls around the opening...

     newspaper wrappings scattered about
     closed boxes by the door...

          by Peggy Brown & Sarah Bogle

Graduation

graduation day
the anticipation
commencement

the student
brainstorming
from his computer

from dusk to dark
ever present
thoughts of schoolwork

looking back
two years ago
early nervousness

the good friends
forever
cohort

the waiting is over
finished
Graduation Day

          by Mr. & Mrs. Barry Cripe

Bus-zee-ness

two hummingbirds
encircling
the sweet red nectar

flashes by my eyes
work is calling me

buzzing
fills the air
my busy life

slow down
no where in sight

swing swaying
with the tree
reaching for the sky

always flying
seeking sweet nectar

          by Glenna McKenzie, Andrea Earnest, Jane Rieman

Penny Path

cool mountain stream
I pitch a penny
and wish

the water spirits
gently smile

air so sweet
pebbles bathing
at the bottom of the stream

majestic mountains
shadow the spring

spring waters flow
boulder waterfall
leaf boat drifting by

last ray of sunshine
before the bend

          by Marcie Holeman & Becky Ives

Wrapped in peanut butter

morning laughter
beds pushed together
counting pennies

young boy giggles
as he hides his bellybutton

cleaning out closets
the children discover
toys gathered from the past

sound of daddy’s car door
a race to the window

the smell of strawberries
from her hair
he closes his eyes

I touch my chest
spring growing closer

         a rengay by Glenna & Craig McKenzie

SWEEPS AWAY

sandcastle and seashells—
ocean water
sweeps them away…

the sun touches the ground
a gentle breeze…

sounds of a fish
slapping the waves
rippling circles expands away

in the distance—
an outline mast of a sail

seagulls—
swoop and dive
gathering their prey

a dark shadow slowly circling—
a fin breaks the surface…

          by Kathie Franklin and Peggy Brown

Rengay

sand
all around me
growing weary

watching the sunset
as time goes by

mysteriously
I catch her glance
as she passes by

sweaty hands
pounding heart

          by Andrea & Scott Earnest

Figuring it Out

2 become 1
easier said than done
when there is 3

never a dull moment
in tight spaces

from work to school
her day is long
and he is left with 3

3 and he
take up the slack

while she is away
he and 3 are learning how…
2 communicate

love helps 3
become 1 family

          by Craig and Sarah Bogle

The Hunt

hidden in the bushes
the pastel and bright hues
the old woman runs past

eagerly waiting the sit-down
rattle the prize…listen for what’s inside

look up high and watch grandma’s delight
when she sees you’ve passed
the secret treasure

smell of ham and sweet potatoes
pulls grandma away

she gently leads us
to rabbit trails and cotton tails
jellybeans and coins

day must end but with treasure
to remember grandma with forever

          by Mary Smith and Ashley Whitehead

Rengay

texting fear across the night
satalites play ping pong
with my life

stars shine on
a heart darkens

regrets playout
shut down begins
compassion launches into space

alone
the arrival a mystery

cell phone dings
answers to life
wait inside

will we ever
talk again?

          by Becky Ives with her daughter, Tonya

Complete Opposites

I am calm
she’s a spaz . . .
God’s sense of humor

were we put on this earth
to torment each other?

an epiphany—
weird reality
we love each other

one goes left
one goes right
we end up together

in a covenant
Jekyll & Hyde

up versus down
complete opposites . . .
oddly do attract

Sean & Kendra Lee