Rengay

School picture day
7 year old girl
no smile

         tooth fairy
         visits

mama so proud
little girl growing up
her portrait

         little one cries
         doesn’t feel pretty
         refusing to chuckle

family members
awaiting pictures

         excitement too much
         she smiles
         anyway

Julie Rambo & Valerie Ellegood (mom)

children laughing
snow angels appear
magically

brushstrokes
icy silhouettes, gone tomorrow

blankets of love
hot chocolate
scalded tongues

vaseline on windburned cheeks
a warm bath and footie pajamas

outside and inside
cherubs at rest
both fleeting as snowflakes

Amy Chiligiris & Julie Edmonson

         Tis the Season

no parking
hot tempers
cold wind

         big sales
         pushing and shoving

long lines
screaming children
empty wallets

         hiding places
         curious minds

sleeping little ones
santa’s snack
Christmas presents flowing

         morning arrives
         satisfied smiles

Jill Doyle & Bonnie Huddleston

white shoes--
traces of
the past

         bare feet
         grass between my toes

sunny summer day--
running and playing
in the yard

         picnic in the park
        family and friends around

checkered tablecloth
on the picnic table,
babbling brook

         a lover's nest
        two become one

Karen Fleener & family

bare trees
on the gray horizon,
raindrops fall

        winter is
        on the way

cold toes--
cuddling
by the fire

         let it snow!
         a horse drawn sleigh

bells ringing,
snowflake
on my eyelash

        be of good cheer
        the best is on the horizon

Karen Fleener & family

phone rings
helicopter starts        DO

red blood
gushing
life saved         JW

ACLS
anxiety         DO

information overload
Cognac         BR

load and go
get the clothes MG

Dianne Olson & friends

excited playful child
dead beetle
on a stick          ALJ

butterflies
on the windowsill          BCJ

windchimes
musical serenade
early morning          ELJ

Anna & Family

quiet snowfall
fresh pure
luminous moon          RO

to the Mall
I will buy          DO

silent sleighride
wool blankets
virgin snow          RO

express checkout
ten items or less          DO

Dobbin stabled
hearth ablaze
hot chocolate          RO

my card declined
exceeds credit limit          DO

Dianne Olson & RO

peaking over
the balcony of heaven
god smiles

piling up the hills
making his footstool

decorating with roses and daffodils
green carpet
in his living room

scooping out the valleys
waterfalls
fills his swimming pool

shinny chandelier
bright stars twinkle

in the secret garden
adam and eve
listen to snake talk

Napoleon Mond and Family

Warm coffee pot
Wet hair
Crisp shirt and pants

Good-by at the door
Back to bed

Different paths
A yearning closeness
Newly wed

Harley and family
A lifestyle of change

Tight lipped smile
Cover-up design the
Tattoo parlor buzz

Windblown hair
She smiles again

Dave and Gale Barr

“The Miracle”

a warm summer morning
a pregnancy test
reveals positive         DW

overjoyed
we embrace         HW

a tear in the eye
an expectant mother
begins to nest         DW

calling family
hoping for a girl
she will be the first         HW

a family elated
showering with gifts         DW

the time approaches
grab the bag
IT’S A GIRL!         HW

David Workman & wife

old victrola
shadows of the past
grandma dances

reminiscing of the days
when we used to laugh

faded memories
teeth in a cup
grandpa's laughter

together
we once were,
in love

grandma and grandpa
crank the victrola once more
our passion

still there,
for the last dance

Rita Marlow & Rusty Vinson

         Memories

tree top
arms reaching high
slightly crooked star

         multi-colored lights
         twinkle

a favorite ornament
her hand softly touches
eyes sparkle

         engraved memory
         years gone by

family traditions
Christmas feast
laughter filled rooms

         scent of evergreen
         ever green

Jill Doyle and Julie Rambo

smell of pine
lights aflicker
carolers

         watching their breath
         as they sing

footprints heavily
in the snow
big and little

         chapped lips
         rosie cheeks
         one reaches for lip balm

songs from the heart
bright smiles

         the fire crackles
         cozy toes
         a night full of faith

Jan Runion & Julie Edmonson

Secret Tryst

sun warmed hidden stream
discarding shoes                   MLW
amongst peals of laughter

mud between toes
oozes through          DW

sliding down the
slippery slope
holding each other up          MLW

reaching bottom
we start the trek          DW
back up the hill

climbing up is harder
youth no longer on our side          MLW

at the top
exhausted
again, down we go          DW

Mary Lou Walker and David Workman

blue heron
standing in the sun
a water lily bloom

current gently flowing
through walls of stone
with a family member . . .

afternoon delight--
drifting with the breeze
refreshment at hand

endless summer’s
lasting memories

Lisa Swick & Marie Radtke

red brick chimney
swirling white
wisps of smoke

midnight sky
scent of embers
welcoming me

Jeanne Luckenbill and Karen Currie

Winter Night

red brick chimney
swirling white
wisps of smoke              JL

another log
the fire roars                   KC

midnight sky
scent of embers
welcoming me                JL

warming my hands
yellow flames
day ending                      KC

dancing flames
sleeping faces                  JL

winter's chill
fading
tomorrow's sunrise           KC

Karen Currie and Jeanne Luckenbill

deer--
in the field
eating          KB

the leavings
of harvest          SB

caught in winter’s grip--
the creek
is still          KB

Frost
on the window
the appearance of lace          SB

hidden in the closet
an old wedding gown          KB

images of days past--
returning
to haunt the present          SB

Karen & Steve Bender

The fourth of July
an old woman’s birthday
a centurion, so strain her food          BW

so many years
waiting for the end          KB

with a sigh
she blows out the candles on her soft cake
ten are still alight          BW

reflecting—
in the tears
on her face          KB

Tears—for a century of life
or does weariness prevail?          BW

A triumphant smile
the end will come
when it will          KB

Brenda Ware & Karen Bender

80 degrees
home run          GW

Cardinals win
freckled-face boy smiling          JW
sitting next to dad

lite rain
sun shines          JW

flowers bloom
grass grows fast          DO
have to mow again

Jennifer West

Tina and Napoleon

she walks by
time
stood still

naïve about inquiries
never noticed

secretly
forget me nots
sweet

searching about
cake and candy on desk
enjoying

anticipating
eagerly waiting

finally
realizes
heart flutters

Tina and daughters:

typing
deadline
quiet outside

dim corner lights
quiet streets

break for tea
can't go on
reach for energy

bed in sight
forbidden desire
sigh

empty
knots in stomach

daybreak
finished
time is gone

sitting on the porch
pitter patter of rain
wet ground

peeking thru the soil . . .
flower bud

in the garden
shoots in rows
renewed growth

in a maple tree
songs of joy
new life appears

down the street . . .
baby cries

squirrels
frantically unbury . . .
nuts

by Barbara Connelley & Victoria Williams

Summer of Childhood

drooping willow tree
red kool-aid moustaches
secret hiding place                          KT

summer heat
hot tar bubbling                               JL

barefeet, culottes
tired eyes
cool green grass                              KT

victrola playing
open windows
flowing curtains                             JL

crickets chirp
moon beams                                   KT

pastel snapdragons
dreams of tomorrow
scent of the past                              JL

By: Jeanne Luckenbill and friend Kathy Trimby

Teething

she cries—
wiping sleep from my eyes
I reach for her          KL

holding her head to my chest
I reassure her          PJ

in the moonlight
I see it—
her first tooth          KL

laying
on top of the dresser
her teething ring          PJ

ring in my hand
she accepts it instantly          KL

now calm
I mimic her
by closing my eyes          PJ

Kendra Lee & Patricia Jones (her mother)

Pigtails and Pantyhose

early morning routine
small eyes watch in wonder
working mother’s day begin          MLW1

blow dryer blast on my back
makes me giggle          MLW2

uniform on
shoes in a forgotten place
run in my hose          MLW1

tray with bowl and spoon
flinstone vitamins
begin the day healthy and loved          MLW2

perfectly straight part
between two pigtails          MLW1

homework left on the table
kiss goodbye have a good day
love you          MLW2

Mary Lou Walker & Michele Lynn Walker

The fourth of July
an old woman’s birthday
a centurian, so strain her food        BW

so many years
anticipating death        KB

with a sigh
she blows out the candles on her cake
ten are still alight        BW

reflections
glistening in streams
down her face        KB

tears- for a century of life
or does weariness prevail?        BW

a triumphant smile
the end will come
when it will        KB

Kendra Lee & Brenda Ware

jewelry box
holding the memory          RM
he gave her

in the drawer          HW
the letter has yellowed

she begins to cry          RM
looking up into the mirror,
first love letter

torn                    HW
from the years,
true love

drawn on the front,          RM
a heart of forever

her tears dry          HW
she joins him,
in her memory

a rengay by Heather Walston, and Rita Marlow

multitude of lights          GK
weave through the spruce
packages beneath

awaiting the demise          MK
of their beauty

Gidget and Matt Kellenberger

taking memories          GK
for my journey
I plan my list
pictures and jewelry          JW
are foremost

Gidget Kellenberger, Jennifer West

Welcome Motherhood

exciting news
new expectations
frightening world of motherhood       AJ

first picture frame-
encloses a peanut          KL

belly stretching
kicks and punches
hiccups all night long          AJ

visualizing for the first time-
awestruck at the sight of her          KL

alone in bed
the unborn
invades my dreams          KL & AJ

sweet thoughts of baby girl
I welcome motherhood          KL & AJ

Kendra Lee and Anna Johnson

         Eyes

nursing home
autumn eyes
staring from bedroom window

wondering mind
many thoughts

flowered housecoat
bed sores
on backside

brightened eyes
shadows in the distance
become clearer

faces appear
grandchildren on the sidewalk

hugs and kisses
glowing face
not forgotten

Nila Vinson & Rusty Vinson

         Still There

old victrola
shadows of the past
grandma dances

reminiscing of the days
when we used to laugh

faded memories
teeth in a cup
grandpa's laughter

together
we once were
in love

grandma and grandpa
crank the victrola once more

our passion
still there
for the last dance

Sunday! A day of cheer for us.
The church bells are ringing
Choir children are singing

Warm steamy coffee
Pancakes and berries

He shrugs and thinks the
Preacher has bats in his belfry
To think God saves

us mere mortals
He may simply sidestep

the door opens—
in from the rain
she runs

for drying
she stops

to the bed
she races him
shaking-

loud thunder
under the bed she hides

I find her
in darkness
licking herself

Karen Currie and Daughter (Jennifer)

a mother
a child
huddling together

            grandma's quilt
            keeping us warm

by the fireplace
a dear friend near
a cold nose long hair and ears

            smoke billows into the sky
            stars shine
            over the white snow

nature sleeping under the blanket
waiting to be reborn

            the first bloom
            pushes through

bare trees
on the gray horizon
raindrops fall

            a   river flowing
            calm and serene

a woodchopper's ax
in a stump of wood
a long day's work

            strong calloused hands
            being washed in the stream
            hurry home to her

a lover's quarrel
harsh words spoken   

            the sun sets
            into darkness
            a howl is heard

multitude of lights
weave through the spruce
packages beneath

celebration of the birth
comes but once a year

ice covered streets
shiny and slick
cars drive slowly

children excited
willing to go to bed
morning comes sooner

travelers from afar
flight is delayed

everyone to gather
smiles all around
plans for next year

by gidget and matt kellenberger

just the four of us
going somewhere new
memories to be made

toothbrush and underwear
are foremost

suitcases packed
no room for more
one last look

gas to the brim
the trip begins
worries instantly forgotten

stops along the way
timing is everything

good times, hectic times
usually the ones remembered
then, back to life

by gidget kellenberger and coworkers

sunny winter morning
long 5 minute drive
warm shower

happy to see
tossing and turning

aching feet
2 days to go
Chrismas is near

mall is crazy
  I am also
turn around

unhappy little girl
up too late

good day at school
many more
santa will come