just the four of them
talking
and laughing

Jill Guffey

just the four of them
talking
and laughing
remembering jokes told
as children

just the four of them
talking
and laughing
over dinner we suddenly remember
the faces of those we'd forgotten

just the four of them
talking
and laughing
no one remembers
the abortion

Just the four of them
Talking
And laughing
About what is
To be kept between them

•••

just the four of them
talking
and laughing

    childhood memories
    things remembered

the photo album
captured snapshots of life
in black and white

    amidst words of anger
    the truth is found

love letters
yellowed with age
found hidden in the drawer

    forgotten love
    once again reborn

•••

sitting together
just the four of them
talking and laughing
over an evening meal

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write

Matt Tierney

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
then i realize
i have nothing

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
"Thirteen ways of looking at writer's block"
I generate two

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
defeated, I give up
and go to bed

My fingers
Tapping the computer
What to write
Finally a thought
Never mind

my fingers not typing but…
tapping the computer
what to write, lost in memory

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
my mind wanders
from the assignment

nothing in mind
my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
I write this...

early summer morning
diamond fields
covered with children

Chris Merritt

early summer morning
diamond fields
covered with children
tanned sweaty skin
from playful exercise

early summer morning
diamond fields
covered with children
orange dust
lingers in the air

clouds hide the moon . . .
looking at nothing, the answer
I was looking for

David Koester

clouds hide the moon . . .
looking at nothing, the answer
I was looking for
gray summer night
clouds hide the moon…
nothing illuminated

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive

David Meyer

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
the other
not moving

Two deer
On the shoulder
One alive
The other mourning
The loss of a loved one

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
headlights
click off

blue truck
brakes lock
two deer
on the shoulder
one alive

•••

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive

     alone in the woods
     petrified

wood washed ashore
relics
histories unknown

     we uncover the past
     pieces of a puzzle

on the coffee table
for days
untouched

     skin grows cold
     longing for something

•••

summer night
under the stars
we sleep.

Ashley Knezevich

summer night
under the stars
we sleep.
side by side
marshmallows we eat

summer night
under the stars
we sleep
ants creeping
onto our blanket terrain

summer night
under the stars
we sleep
legs dangling from the tailgate
we wish on a shooting star

summer night
under the stars
we sleep.
woke by
police

holding her
in the warm
summer night
under the stars
we sleep

soft quiet
summer night
under the stars
we sleep
the whole night

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat

Nick McLenighan

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat
sock fuzz
added to the cat's next hairball

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat
silently
i lace my shoes

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat
purring
glistens in the light

underwater
pretending I'm a mermaid

                Katie Burke

underwater
pretending I’m a mermaid
reality set in
gasping for air

underwater
pretending I’m a mermaid
I hold
my breath for ten
seconds

underwater
pretending I'm a mermaid
childhood fantasies
lose their lustre
grade school ends

underwater
pretending I'm a mermaid
ocean calm
skipping
to avoid the jellyfish

underwater
pretending i'm a mermaid
goggles
i see sunlight
shimmer on tin pod floor

underwater
pretending
I'm a mermaid
escaping the reality
that he is gone

underwater
adventure awaits
swimming about
pretending I'm a mermaid

too lazy to climb stairs
cheese and crackers
ride the elevator

Molly Burns

too lazy to climb the stairs
cheese and crackers
ride the elevator
fat kid
huffing out the stairwell

Too lazy to climb stairs
Cheese and crackers
Ride the elevator
Know wonder I gain
All this the weight

cup of flour
spills on the tiling

Rachel Walker

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
the dog scrambles
to play
in the mess

surprise
making breakfast for mom
cup of flour
spills on the tilling
hope she doesn’t hear me

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
another batch of cookies
ruined
day turns to night

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
s.w.a.t. team
breaks through the window
drug bust

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
grout filled with dust
sweeping
sweeping

cup of flour
spills
on the tiling
the white dust
coats my toes

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
the little chef giggles

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
pancakes for mommy

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
hands shaking
she stoops
to clean up the mess

cup of flour
spills on the tilling
mom’s gonna flip

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
eager daughter--
brand new bag
of chocolate chips

kitchen floor mopped
presents wrapped
now for the cake
cup of flour
spills on the tile

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
I sigh
will the day end

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip

                Michael Knowles

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
my tongue invades
a fleshy peach

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
hiding from view
cold leftovers

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
softly
illuminated

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip is alive

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
after skinny-dipping
two bud lights

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
refrigerator light
the curved silhouette
of your hip

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
as you drink
from the milk carton

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you

Ashlee Peth

forgotten shirt
on the shoulder
how i know you
from the scent
i know is yours

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you
faintly your cologne
still lingers

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you
crisp dress shirt
only for special occasions

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you
spring day
forgotten shirt
not your scent

4am
alone in my room
parts of you linger
forgotten shirt
i inhale
how i know you

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep

Laura Podeschi

spring lilies
i drop my luggage
on the doorstep
finally home
for the summer

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
home at last
for Easter

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
On the doorstep
Gently embracing me
You hold back your tears

spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
my hand reaches
forward

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
for each missing month
one flower bud

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
touch my hair
before the doorbell

Spring lilies
fresh new step
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep-
We'll try again

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
a present
from my cat

city fire alarm--
the boots and suits
no longer empty

Joanne Weise

City fire alarm—
The boots and suits
No longer empty
Flames dancing
The empty building comes to life

City fire alarm- -
The boots and suits
No longer empty
Now it is time
To be a Hero

city fire alarm--
the boots and suits
no longer empty
the theatre
grows alive

city fire alarm—
the boots and suits
no longer empty
a row
of un-made beds

•••

city fire alarm—
the boots and suits
no longer empty

     the house alive
     children’s laughter

mysterious
unnatural presence
in the air

     blooming lilac
     taste of summer

ice cream melts
down her hand
hot and humid

     unable to breathe
     another life expired

•••

autumn sunrise
         make-out point
I start the car

Dan Temkin

autumn sunrise
make out point
I start the car
refusing to look
where you should be

autumn sunrise
make-out point
I start the car
engine roar covers
uncomfortable silence

autumn sunrise
make-out point
I start the car
eleven minutes later
she’s still cold

Autumn sunrise
Make-out point
I start the car
Grounded for life
Was it worth it?

autumn sunrise
at our make-out point
I start the car quickly

autumn sunrise
make-out point
I start the car
wishing we had
run out of gas

sitting on the porch
watching waiting    
they call your name!

Brooke DeWall

Sitting on the porch
Watching waiting
They call your name!
Finally
The road trip starts

blankets wrapped tightly
sitting on the porch
watching waiting
my heart and soul
they call your name!

empty doghouse
a fur ball at my feet
softly snoring

Angie Hawk

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
the onther crossed
in front of me

one car
two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
miles from home

the snow falls
our eyes
dance with each other

James Hartnett

the snow falls
our eyes
dance with each other
one snowflake--
the center of your pupil

•••

the snow falls
our eyes
dance with each other

     under the moonlight
     we grow closer together

against the wind
we march
in perfect step

     on stage
     the solitary dancer

pirouette
blond headed girl
gracefully spins

     pinwheel on a stick
     reflects the sun

•••

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming

Nicole Silverman

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
first wedding anniversary
first skinny dip

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
a galaxy of stars
water in your cupped hands

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
our heat escapes
with the wind

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
in the hot springs
days tensions melt away

empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets

Molly Burns

empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets
loud enough
for everyone to hear

empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets
empty hallways
summer sunbeams
illuminate the dust

graduation day
looking back
it almost killed me
empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets

empty hallways
childhood ghosts dart between-
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets
moments missed