Bedtime

heavy eyes fall
silent yawn
the final stretch

          turn off the tv
          quiet at last

lips pressed against his
checking for breath
pry the toy from his hand

          night lights on
          toys are up

step back in silence
observing innocence
heart over flowing with love

          day dissolves into night
          promising to return

Carroll C. Keller

A new arrival
Parents
So proud

First day of school
A mother's tears

The wind blows
A cocoon becomes
A butterfly

Ring on a pillow
Tuxedo
Girl of his dreams

So much love
Time to share

A new arrival
Parents
So proud

Sunday

warm sunday mornings
smell of coffee
and newspaper

hardness of the pews
pastor's long sermon

smell of fried chicken
friends gather
in play clothes

sitting on the porch swing
listening closely to grandpa

hand in hand
watching together—
the day pass

love still deep
passion still strong

Jill Patterson & Rhonda Russell

Spring Symphony

baby rabbits
romp
in the yard

how long will
they live?

the song softly fades
all that is left
is the melody in my mind

memories fade
new songs replace them

spring rains help
spring flowers bloom
vivid colors

grass grows
out of control

Kathy McDonald
Marty McDonald
Sue Foster
(huband and mom)

spring rain
Sunday
afternoon

ice cream
hot summer day

crunchy
leaves
cover the earth

cold
wet snow
on my tongue

dandy lions
from my hand to my mother's

the wind blows
season’s change
new life ahead

A Day in the Life of Lonely

cool with damp
the old man
replenishes the fruit

his tattered, thin cloak
offers no protection

the woman saunters
looking for reaction
her dating haven

an empty street
looms before her

gloomy night
big city dreams
fall by the wayside

a bright star
peeks from behind the clouds

Rachel Costello & Kathy McDonald

Family Vacation

family vacation
heading toward
a dot on the map

the sunset disappears in the distance
VACANCY awaits us

dawn stirs the senses
forgotten items discovered
conflict escalates

the noonday sun
warmth surrounds

the ABC game
car bingo
HELP

the dot on the map
a mind’s eye away

Michelle & Robert Sanders

trying to sneak a peek
two children wonder
what it could be

their mother's arietta
of acid words

loud noise
tears falling
over?

her's a disingenuous love . . .
exonerating his lusts

somehow he remembers
she softens
ashamed, in turn they slightly smile

rekindled love
he remembers why he loves her

Misty Riley & Karen Reed

Deer

befriended deer gets aquainted
family pet
visits each year

          extended family members
          babies scamper

run in the meadow
eat the grain
happy family

          enjoy human
          eat out of coffee can

trust, and enjoy
human family
scared of strangers

          run away from strangers
          hide in woods

Misty Riley & family

child of darkness
stranger of love
sucked away

loneliness around
aloneness within

blues all around
reds fill the air
sunset of life

canvas of color
changes . . .
to gray

twinkles appear
dark face lights up
child of darkness

stranger of love
begin a new day

Tammy Wright & sister

field of violets
splashes of sunlight
  dandelions

labyrinth of color
like a crystal glass

tiny—
 as a tear drop
     placed upon the leaf

fragile—
each birth
    is new complexity

inventing the sweet senses
  warming the soul

natural palette
of many hues
    kaleidoscope

Tammy Wright & Vicki Ballentine

          Over Time

kitchen table
your life spread out before me
darkness falls

in the quiet of the night
safeguarding memories

your birth—
breathing
new life into me

pacifiers
to prom flowers
growing into your own

graduation day
to wedding bands and rice

on my pillow now
drifting off to sleep
milestones between pages

Megs Lewis & Laura Tucker

Living on the Edge

she slides in
behind the wheel
permit in hand

the light is green
still green      go!

traffic has opened up
miraculous
they were expecting this

traffic stopped
parking lot
we're still moving

life passes
before my eyes

back home
safe and sound
gray hair around my temples

Doug Hays, Teal Kaufman
and Laura Tucker

Serenity

minutes later
a child whimper
with joy

hot sun
warm water

movement slow
two cart wheels
on sand

legs-arms flying high
my serve

a swim
around the pool
saturday evening

family getaway
and you loved it

Annie Clay

Memories

blue teapot on the shelf
linens neatly folded
the bills paid late

    butterflies fluttering around the mailbox
    yellow, orange, brown and black

unsigned thank you notes
a full answering machine tape
she sits in a chair

    the orchid smell lingers
    her black dress is wrinkled

the green grass was cut short
the fresh smells enticing
a quick crash

  forever entombed
  last words not spoken

the sun still rising
another day
we must go on

        Penny Harman & Vicki Eldridge

Where is the light?
Is it after death or
Is it at birth

Is it mental or
physical somewhere on earth . . .

If one does not see it—
is he blinded or
just satisfied

Where might one find it . . .
At church or maybe—
Dreaming

After death
seeing a supernatural being?

Can you hold it or feel it . . .
Is it warm like the sun . . .
Where is the light?

Iris & Malcolm

Fire Water

cool morning stillness
a fire to keep warm
birds conversing

    still glowing embers
    I see another rising

hot cup warming fingers
cold words in the air
a woodpecker knocks

    slowly creeping sun
    the shadows move

the winding path
branches swaying
earth crunching under foot

    walking alone
    a deer runs past

warmth begins to grow
a beginning brightness
my breath is in front of me

    frogs jumping
    dragonflies dancing

morning stillness
the cool lake water
smooth like glass

    tiny circles extend
    still silence

the jumping fish
smooth lake disturbed
I hear flies awaken

    bees drinking nectar
    wings beat faster

Vicki Eldridge & Penny Harman

Picnic

Weeping willow—
bowing down and
hiding all beneath           

   a couple dreams of better days,
   the wind—silently asleep

a future bride
the fearful groom
awake to reality

   a bottle of wine
   now empty
   as the moment

they remember that day
when they first met

   first sight
   does not always—
   mean true love

Lori Ade & Iris Lewis-Beasley

summer memories

hot sun
smell of chlorine
cool splash

days and days ahead
no end in sight

scrapes and bruises
she rides her bike
he plays baseball

slowly circling
she dreams of the future
long white dress

maids in a row
forever a kiss

Rhonda Russell

school years end
nervous anticipation
straight A's at last

clear blue skys
eyes are wide and open

schools out
summer is here
freedom at our fingertips

wisdom comes with age
our minds never expire

ten years later
education a must
Schools back in session

lessons learned from what we're taught
nature's beauty glows

Bridget Lamb & friends

cool spring afternoon
rain falling gently through the trees
a walk to remember     

the indian waits to dance, fires glowing bright
drums beating like a heart

People laughing,
Late at night
Stars and moon are gleaming

they've gone
the children sit alone

no sky, only darkness
a dream is yet to come
but still teardrops fall.

a lovely thing to see
the flower blooms 

Brdiget Lamb

Indian Dance

Celestial sky
Sattelites flying above
Bats diving below

A bass jumps
Bullfrogs croak

Trudging murky waters
A bulging jumper speared
Supper at last

The cries of children
Silenced with food

The tribe gathers
A fire dance begins
An orange cyclone of ash

Seen afar from galaxies
Fireflies they dance

Beyond Enjoyment

in the silent garden
a willow weeps at noon
summer sun

rays filter softly
piercing the silence

lazy wind flows
across silver chimes breezes
floating on the notes

sun drifts lower
from the distance
a familiar intruder returns

coaxing him closer
he glides across my ankle

Whiskers!
home at last
adventures far behind

Megs Lewis & Barb Bankson

"Tireless Summer"

Long summer days
radiant heat
enemies near

the aroma of gun powder-
permeates the air

leaving shadow behind
heart racing- no words spoken

job well done
returning home
smiles and tears

Jonathan Heise & Annie Clay

"Miracle"

Great exciting news
positive-
many months

His stomach churns
butterfly dance

Tight fitting clothes
beating of a tiny drum

Sharp pains
beautiful gift
Miracle!

Jon & Jamie Heise

Choices

office building
busy busy people
—busy gossiping

the grapevine never ending
stories grow

remembering grandpa’s hand in mine
teaching
life’s simple lessons

differences between right and wrong
will we ever learn?

sun slowly rising
embarking again
upon a new day

same choices to make
which ones will I choose today

Jill Patterson & Mary Collins

A hot summer day
The splashing of waves
A sandy beach

Salt upon my tongue
All lone

Tracks in the sand
A four by four
A unseen badge

Tired of running
No place to hide
Freedom is distant

Stillness in the air
An unexpected visitor

Forgive me
I was foolish
Caged once more

Nila Vinson & Rusty Vinson

Circle of light
In the sky
Following me home

A winding path
I’m not alone

Through a forest
Dark and deep
Leaves falling at my feet

Run, Run, Run
Through a cold stream
A short cut home

Lights ahead barely seen
Almost home

Footsteps echo all around
Shadows move
Hot breath on my neck

Nila Vinson & Robin Sidlo

Spinning
Stomach flipping
merry-go-round

love
ups and downs

back
to reality
mind whirls

common sense
out the window
twirls like a top

heart dangles . . .
a single thread

sewing
torn fabric
repaired

Vicki Ballentine & Dawn Bradley

xxxxx

xxxxx

Trapped

tap tap tap
the glare from the box blinds
trapped in a winding maze

tic tock tick tock
the minutes slowly pass by

the quiet noise chatters in the background
I plug in my piece
the puzzle is almost complete

the sound of rustling papers
the time is almost here

a deep breath
I collect my tools
the ants go marching

tomorrow is a new dawn
on and on and on

Angie McCammack and Charlie Morris

                    Fair Memories

bright lights flashing
the sound of the ferris wheel
going around and around

          tattooed figures smoke in the shadows
          break time

smell of cotton candy
a child’s wondering eyes
savoring the taste

          youngsters encircle the beer tent
          patiently waiting for their only ride home

one last ticket
moving from line to line
lights out

          unexpected shower
          rides frozen in time, dripping . . . last day ruined.

Michelle Sanders & Angela McCammack