racing home
in the snow
to call you

steaming hot cocoa
kids swarm the kitchen
leaving snow trails

crushed dream
at a friend's party
my forced smile

Alya Saqer (5)

in a fleece blanket
all covered up
sleepy puppy

hot chocolate
spilled on new gloves
laughing together

twenty degrees
look at me dad
my own snowman

small ribbon-laced bag
filled with stones
unburied haiku

winter night
we cuddle under the quilt
as mom sings us to sleep

sit in
on this conversation
two feet on the ground

superstitions of the night
the howling fades

stupid conversation
friendship broken
distant wind howls

freezing rain
on barren branches
shimmering in the moonlight

the coffee
continues to drip
she refills her mug

Brittney Gillespie (8)

piggy-back rides
a child wonders
will I ever be this tall

rays of sun bursting
through my heart
“the light of the world”

hair twisting up and around
i close my eyes
and smell the fresh breeze

Amy Hofstetter (2)

a boy’s comment
I kicked…
his vital parts

Alya Saqer (7)

ring already
maybe he’s not coming
what to do now

white outline of the moon
outshone
by the sun

everyone together
for Christmas at our aunt’s
stair sledding

Rachel Morrison (7)

laughing so hard
you finish my sentence
cookout

from wearing diapers
to changing them
growing up

wind
ruffling my hair
wishing for a playground

Brittney Gillespie (2)

pouring rain
we don’t even notice
as colors fill the sky

shimmer sparkles
in your eyes
our first date

like bark of a sycamore
divorce sickens
…strength

cool, low lit room
dark and brooding
his eyes rake over me

sideways glances
at our silence
train whistle blows

Cindie Zelhart (2)

valentine's day
the stores are full
last minute shoppers

Lindsey Jones (3)

scurrying by
with bent head
avoiding my eyes

Cindie Zelhart (4)

small fingers
form a fist
he’s holding onto life

Jenna Pelej (5)

funeral procession
thousands of state cops
honor one man’s son

black & white
watching Neil Armstrong
one small step. . .

childhood crush
a magnolia blooms
the first of many

Chonita Ziegler (7)

statistics, precalculus
quantitative reasoning
I can't count

Jay Johnson (5)

her pouty lips
whisper goodbye
softer than mine

purple umbrella
untouched puddle
she dances in the rain

he's in a hurry
she's antisocial
eeew...does she have pinkeye?

plastic flowers
decorating my dresser
remembering spring

I stand his grave
our first meeting
“Good morning, Grandpa”

spring lilacs
dancing
my own rhythm

so close you
can feel heat
butterfly kisses

the roses are beautiful
the gifts are great
I only wanted him

the deer don’t move
as I run past
one with nature

spring breeze--
God leaves the light on
a little longer

sexy dance contest
girls with tequila confidence
if their mothers only knew

Jenna Pelej (10)

your hand holding mine
the xray shows
multiple fractures

Liz Hare (9)

spring dance
a crush's eyes notice me
I blush

March morning
the robin
hops beside me

smokey bar
her forced smile
goes unnoticed by him

Jenna Pelej (8)

cocktail sting
my wife
is flirting

words from last night
linger at the table
pass the salt…

Keith Chandler (9)

ear muffs,
lacing boots—
figure eights are made

the child races
to the bus-stop
a mud covered rump

Liz Hare (10)

mossy rocks
in the yard
Love grows old

sitting Indian-style
on the ground
22 amateur Buddha’s

Keith Chandler (3)

raindrops…
the black umbrella
blooms

Keith Chandler (13)

desert lizard
on the rock face
greets the rising sun

Philip Jones

pink gelatinous invertebrate
quivering spontaneously
as it releases sperm spores

Jay Johnson (4)

for three days
the rain never stopped
screen door shuts

glistening from
the moon light
two lover’s eyes

“When I was your age…”
same story
I gaze away

Alya Saqer (5)

red, white and blue
proudly waving
at half mast

antebellum house
a cat’s meow echoes
at midnight

splashing streams
Dad baits his son’s
fishing hook

parents drive away
kids walk behind trees
make out session

Andi McCoy (2)

sunset—
     brightly decorated balloons
          drift on the gentle breeze

lost, I call
to You
sunrise

snow on the roof
hiding under the covers
heaven
          watching movies
          together

feel the wind
in your hair—
you are not alone

they duke it out
over something as trivial
as world domination

my heart beats
with the drums
my soul… my music

all my hard work
never appreciated
home alone

Alya Saqer (4)

my hand found its mold…
my head found its pillow
Father

burning leaves
bring the smell of fall
the season of him

Amy Hofstetter (6)

the cherry tree blossom
sugary sweet kisses

great precision must be--
CRASH!
...not again...

turtles in a half shell
He-man & She-ra
Robots in Disguise

so posh
so sophisticated
I am the working woman

black and white photo
the small blonde girl
looks just like me

Whitney Minor (6)

heart stopping moment
his new wedding band
sparkles back at her