packed car
stranded on a country road
raindrops on the window

Tyler Riggs (4)

packed car
stranded on a country road
raindrops on the window
kids fighting in the backseat
raindrops on my face

packed car
stranded on a country road
raindrops on the window
conversation quiets
as the raindrops tell a new story

mother-son
the smell of burnt rubber
on race day

draft beer
the summer concert porta-potty
awaits

Aaron Weldy (5)

honeysuckle bushes
with the forbidden ice pick
holes in a jar lid

Sunday sunrise
dishes clanking
in the kitchen

Amber Gray (5)

Sunday sunrise
dishes clanking
in the kitchen
I awake to the smell
of sweet cinnamon rolls

Sunday sunrise
dishes clanking
in the kitchen
the children wake
house comes alive

dad's cop car
always follows me
to your house

Erica McDonald (3)

side by side
slicing a bucket of peaches
we talk about anything

thirty-one flavors
the winner is
vanilla

Dawn Johnson (8)

a child looking through
the freezer glass
thirty-one flavors
the winner is
vanilla

prom night
knock on the door
a rush

Kim Blunt (5)

prom night
knock on the door
a rush
down the stairs
Dad cries

oblivious
to the deep snowfall
we keep talking

Aaron Weldy (7)

oblivious
to the deep snowfall
we keep talking
after hours we awake to a silent place
no recollection of the time passed.

morning dew
wet footprints
across the kitchen floor

in grandma's kitchen
pots rattle on the stove
savory smells

Mother's Day
snuggled in the sheets
laughter down the hall

a little girl?
I find myself singing to her
on the drive to work

Shelley Benson (4)

jar of seashells
on the mantel
a trip never forgotten

Amber Gray (5)

washing peaches
his hand brushes mine
my heart skips a beat

morning breeze
her coffee
sputters in the kitchen

morning sun
in the white bedroom
grandmother's good morning kiss

the older kid
murders a firefly to light up
his ring finger

the older kid
murders a firefly to light up
his ring finger
tears flow
in the younger kids eyes

lipstick prints
midnight shadow
we say good night

Beth Miller (4)

lipstick prints
midnight shadow
we say good night
I turn for a final look
as he does the same

lipstick prints
midnight shadow
we say goodnight
he follows me in

picnic table
soft kisses
for lunch

Karen Logue (6)

Picnic table
Soft kisses
For lunch
More of the same
For dinner

picnic table
soft kisses
for lunch
the summertime breeze makes
makes the noon hour fly by.

unbearable summer evening heat
clothes on the ground
          skinny dippers

Beth Miller (7)

unbearable summer evening heat
clothes on the ground
skinny dippers
climb the fence
at midnight

my thoughts are
running a 5K marathon
let's skip dinner

TyKyna Fox (2)

after dark
two sisters running
barefoot

Karen Logue (6)

after dark
two sisters running
barefoot
i look out the window
with a frown

after dark
two sisters running
barefoot
in the backyard
laughter

after dark
two sisters running
barefoot
a snake in the grass
ahh! she screams

cookout
talking in the kitchen
to steal a bite

Erica McDonald (6)

cookout
talking in the kitchen
to steal a bite
everyone is full
at dinner time

Grandmother's kitchen
a taste of coffee
and good conversation

Brittany Smith (4)

Grandmother's kitchen
a taste of coffee
and good conversation
until my brother comes in
and changes everything

lunchtime
the old radio on the fridge
elvis

Erica McDonald

Lunchtime
The old radio on the fridge
Elvis
Grandma does a little jig
As she stirs the pot.

Emergency Room
we gather for the news
about father's fall

Dawn Johnson (4)

waiting patiently
Emergency Room
We gather for the news
about fathers fall
Tears of joy we can breathe again.

highchair
she pulls out of the driveway
with her long blonde hair

Highchair
She pulls out of the driveway
With her long blonde hair
The baby reaches out
Missing her already

large metal fish on a pole
grandpa's fishing
story

Celeste Settles (3)

quiet street
no balls bouncing
at the end of summer

Je'Taun Irons (5)

quiet street
no balls bouncing
at the end of summer
street lights on
tomorrow school begins

my sister
curled up on the couch
a bookworm

home alone
free as a bird
the doorbell rings

Je'Taun Irons (8)

home alone
free as a bird
the doorbell rings
my underwear
is my outfit

Home alone
free as a bird
the doorbell rings
the police Captain
stands still

home alone
free as a bird
the doorbell rings
let them stay
or let them go

swimming pool
tubes
free

hot day
popsicle sticks
scattered throughout my yard

hot day
popsicle sticks
scattered throughout my yard
kiddie pool under the plastic slide
remains still

hot summer day
sweet watermelon
covered with ants

hospital test
she sits alone
not knowing what is to come

the school bus pulls up
and older children get on
my toys come alive

Je'Taun Irons (3)

the schools bus pulls up
and older children get on
my toys come alive
         AND
so do I!

tiny casket
one day we will
meet again

Tera Cook (3)

9 months I awaited your arrival
tiny casket
one day we will
meet again
I ask God why?

Autumn sunset
picking the perfect pumpkin
together

Adam Buxton (6)

Autumn sunset
Picking the perfect pumpkin
together—
as a family
for the first time

ducks on the pond
my shaky trigger
finger

Ducks on a pond
My shaky trigger
Finger
Shakes wildy
Lucky duck

surgery scheduled
he calmly explains he wants
to see me graduate

Dawn Johnson (3)

church camp . . .
she tells us
it's ok to leave

snow falling
church bells ringing
Midnight Mass

Adam Buxton (3)

thunder rolls
off the porch
we wade through puddles

Sara Reynolds (2)

peony bushes
surround the front porch
a thunderstorm rolls in

Sara Reynolds (2)

peony bushes
surround the front porch
a thunderstorm rolls in
all the petals fall
as it brings him to his knees

sitting on grandma's lap
she combs my hair sharing
memories and laughter

Shauna Mays

front porch swing
on a hot day
crisp summer rain

summer night
an engine roars to life
along with my heart

Karen Logue (8)

hot summer day
on grandma's porch
chickens crowing

summer breeze
little girl standing on a chair
in the kitchen

Tera Cook (4)

summer breeze
little girl standing on a chair
in the kitchen
anxiously awaiting
to mimic her grandmother

sun beaming
on the dirt roads
Hallelujah

paw paw's hands
pull me on the sled
in summer

front porch
guitar and beer in hand
rain thunder tune

Tyler Riggs

front porch swing
on a hot day
crisp summer rain
dew drops
on my glass of lemonade

deer camp
I'm one of the guys
with grandpa

Zach Keck (4)

starry night
smoke from a Camel
billows from my mouth

starry night
smoke from a Camel
billows from my mouth
my child opens the door
and I take my last puff

we sit alone on the lake
the cold air
blows against my cheek

Staci Whitcomb

Grandpa's specialty
chocolate chip flapjacks
peanut butter on top

father son
in deep conversation
cold beer

Zach Keck (8)

father son
in deep conversation
cold beer
courage builds
he asks to marry his daughter