LOVE

secrets
between lovers
silent nights

eyes burning into hers
searching for answers

violet fight
his words
like a slap in the face

parting ways
they say nothing

seeing her happy
without him
killing him

handkerchief
a constant reminder

Mark Beanblossom & roommate

crisp fresh air
I hear a crackle
. . . crunched leaf beneath my foot

The red orange leaf
no longer a whole

I stumble . . .
upon a group of strangers
enjoying a midnight hayrack ride

The moon leads the way
and I continue on

but not before
exchanging one
sweet moonlit glance . . .

In the distance
I see my destination . . . home

Anthony Holeyfield & Carrie Seymour

Love

picking up clothes
the argument,
discarded.

porous white sheet
rinse and spin

unknowingly
fingers clasp
in sleep

Soft sheets,
a welcome warmth
the drier brings

in the dark
eyes focus on tv

Harsh words
now fuzzy
static rolls across the screen

Philip Frederick & D. Fields

Vespers

Long crucial hours
Days before
The stress begins

No sleep
Sweat rolling down his face

500 students
Working hard
For one night

Nervous as can be
Two directors-four choirs

Ruined vocals
Crabby directors
Time has come- Vespers

The pressure is on
Applauds all around

Alicia Kelly

Mothers

hot oatmeal
thickened,
eases all suffering

large bus
leaves behind
another absence

grey pavement
a dirt covered glacier
marks the walk

even the library
silences the teachers

open books
no words insight,
another day

Judith & Deidre Fields

Midnight

a moth fluttering
toward a lamp
full of dead moths

dust
in the moonlight

dark country creek
no reflection
in the grasshopper's eye

cupped hands
waiting for the firefly

howling wind
the candle flickers
then steadies

the boy's flashlight
avoids the nightcrawler

Josh Wild

Days Gone By

warm summer sun
peaking through the willows
calm waters erupt

splashing in the creek
laughter echoes across the hills

in the distance
vague figures appear
with binoculars

tan bodies
running to the clothes pile

labored breathing
shouts of delight
eager anticipation

following the smell
applepie on the windowsill

Raquel Burns

The Mountains

morning mist
at the peaks
jack pines sway

head of the holler
ruts in the road

barefoot on the porch
chew glass overflowing
telling me a tale

moonshine stills
loud banjo pickin’

sewing circle gossip
pin pricked fingers
littleuns trying to keep up

bathtime in the wash tub
muddy pawprints

evening bible reading
iced tea
papaw Leo snores

cliff-diving with Kinny
long walk home

Raquel Burns

Out, Out

alzheimer's unit
sixteen blank faces
watch ozzie and harriet

my next door neighbor
thinking i'm her dead husband

my grandmother smiles
her teeth
were never that straight

in the coffin
my friend looks plastic

my great aunt's wake
her bees
have no idea

grandma refuses to visit
graveyards

Josh Wild