On Fireflies

On Fireflies
Alexis Wright

I saw a firefly today —
just one, or maybe two.
The soft light glowing
From its posterior created
Within me a nostalgic bliss
That reminded me to smile
In the midst of a fading season.

As I watched the pulsing light
Floating before my eyes, I allowed myself
To notice the beauty of the bug’s performance
Against the backdrop of a waning day.
It was only as the world grew darker,
That I found myself better able to appreciate
The elegance of the firefly’s luminescence.

I’ve no clue why I care
So much for these lightening bugs.
Perhaps they remind me
Of the childhood I’ve left behind
And the imaginative innocence
I yearn for even now that I must
Entertain a practical reality.

Withered Hands in a Silent Chapel

Withered Hands in a Silent Chapel
Jay Chambers

I. Withered hands hold
the darling baby
contrasting youth and age,
death and life.

II. The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down.

III. The chapel was silent
Until, the baby cried out
she wanted her Granny.

IV. The Lord hath gave
And the Lord hath taken away

V. Years pass,
and the babe
has withered hands
to hold a darling baby

VI. For this corruptible must put on
Incorruptible, and this mortal
Must put on immortality

VII. The chapel was silent.

Birth of a Poet

Birth of a Poet
Alexis Wright

Ink-stained fingers and a quiet heart,
Hidden away from a world full of voices—
If only to speak and be heard,
But she can only whisper desperately.
Her words fall on deaf ears,
And her voice is drowned out by noise.
Keep speaking child,
For one day they will hear
And be utterly amazed.

Kid

Kid
Fabrice Poussin

 

The moment of light sweet freshness and soft breeze
two greenish little orbs open onto yet another day
in wonderment as to what may now be revealed.

It seems silk sails undulate with this new energy
is it time to stretch those dreams and shake slumber
or to contemplate the instant when a twitch occurs?

Unwillingly with a force deep inside, the clock tolls
no more choice the hours’ hand tosses a little fuss
kitten attempting to become a tiger, he raises at last.

Leaves of a year gone by mark a date not recalled
numbers flash strobes before his puzzled gaze
two hazy, twelve so neat twenty-to and a new life.

Comforted by a warmth unchangeable born again
a little scar like a crow a dot and a little more gray
only a surface on a canvas stretched to outlast all.

The core resists under its protective shell a young soul
to this world perhaps old in its deepest existence
yet a child inside meek vulnerable as the lamb.

He knows no age every day is a birthday so glorious
at play with thoughts and motions he follows a lead
special little boy little legs though a little grownup.

Perceptions of a mystery so great blinded by marvels
unceasing surrounding; every step is as if drunken
while shaky digits seek the boundaries of a world.

Will he again step out into this jungle where still
he remains little in his heart, small in his mind
though he may too stand tall as his many peers.

No! it is no use, there is no need dear friend
perhaps a curse in fact a blessing coveted by others
stay little boy in your blood run and follow the vision.

She too lives in a doll house of her intimate making
someday soon the doors will fling wide open
and you will once more play the games yours alone.

The Monster Inside

The Monster Inside
Montana Garrett

It scratches the walls inside my mind
Wanting out, to see the light
It is truly evil but acts kind
When It’s trying to put up the one-sided fight

When I try to contain the beast
While up this hill I go
It’s too late, he’s already released
knocked me down feeling low

The hill becomes larger
Growing in size
My vision became dimmer, darker
I was deprived

The beast began dragging me down
To the earthly grave I fall
Into the water I begin to drown
I thought I gave it all

I grew frustrated especially with the monster
No one can save me not even a doctor
Some Beings came at me in white clothes
dragging me away
Why they are doing this I don’t know
Trapped in a cellar I would stay

Tired and afraid began to cry
Sat down on the floor and stared outside
Feeling like there’s nothing more, just wanted to die

I got up to look in the mirror
Walking up putting my hand on the glass
My eyes got bigger
Perhaps it’s a nightmare it will pass

But when I stared at the mirror, all I could see
I couldn’t believe my eyes
That monster was me

The In-between

The In-between
Ashley Lassetter

The In-between
Can be such a beautiful thing
But so often the In-between
Isn’t so clean

From blurred directions
To smeared objections
One looks on reflections
To see the corrections

That maybe the In-between
Is just a scene
In becoming the Queen
You were meant to be

To learn to lean
Not really be seen
Made whole and clean
By the righteous King

To stop and breathe
And be relieved
From the In-between
In Him who makes you clean

Free to sing
In the stillness to the King
And rest and believe
In what is still unseen

To gracefully swing
Into the angel’s right wing
Feel no need to cling
During the In-between

Grandfather

Grandfather
Meagan Cox

Tell me a story
Start with Once Upon a Time…
Forge something new and magical with your mind
You are the great king in charge of these tales
I am your little princess who’s dreams prevail
Look! The trees are waving hello
The blue birds sing songs that we know
There are pirate ships in the skies
Fairies to fly with and stars in our eyes
Let’s play hop scotch with the moon and sun
The comets can join in just for fun
Let’s take our paper airplanes or the hot air balloon we invented
Second star to the right!
That’s where we are headed
Let’s find a waterfall made of chocolate streams,
Have tea with Marry Poppins and talk of finer things
The night will soon be over and day light is drawing near
When I wake up tomorrow, will you still be here?
The older I get the farther you seem to fade.
All I have left are old pictures and memories that I’ll take to my grave
I know our story is not over and one day I’ll see you again
I’ll make sure to continue our songs and stories til the end
I’ll tell them a story
I’ll start with Once Upon a Time…
I’ll forge something familiar and magical with my mind

Riding Scared

Riding Scared
Fabrice Poussin

Miles from a past
and unto another destiny
lost in the midst of heavy fogs
skies crushing like missiles of Armageddon.

Upon the cape of a diminutive superhero
raging torrents assail the little heart
burning with fiery light crashing
onto the spokes of his noble palfrey.

Would-be warrior weary of the enemy
he cowers under the heavy air
aware of the constant hail
of thunderous threats.

Lines of steel shine far above the road
as it shivers with the same fears
a curtain stands as if a gate
between life and the unknown.

Home trembles in the distance
blurred in a vision he can no longer trust
warmth the gentle body imagines
awaits him near the hearth.

Another ride alone in the storm
a memory of a heroic near death
coming home at the speed of terror
to memorize another fable.

Papaw

Papaw
Shea Cook

I barely remember you
Your face, your light
I wanted to look up to you
To imagine the world the way you did

You were my Papaw
I was your sweet pea
The product of
The youngest of your young

You were supposed to be my hero
But, I never got to know you
Too young when you left
I only see you in pictures

But those pictures are nothing
Compared to what real life is
Compared to making memories

But, you were sick
It was your time to go
I love you,
Papaw

Sincerely,
Sweet Pea

Spring Lily

Spring Lily
Anna Lundy

when i
die
do not pity me

for I shall look down
upon you and
giggle—

forevermore,
a child
i shall be

notwithstanding
my absence from life
i am still alive

because of the red—
rose of love
picked, and flowing

for me and you
my black heart
white as the spring lily