array of bright colors
the butterfly emerges
from the cocoon

     crackle, crack
     stepping on peanut shells

winds pierce through the shadow
of the lonely tree

     off balance the chair sits
     as it seems perfect

sheets flapping wildly
on the clothesline
going nowhere

     settle waterfall
     dripping, dripping
     it stops

JoDee Whitlock

Innocence

newborn baby
family gathers                           SK
'round the bassinet

changing table                           AI
a squirt in my eye

big brother
wants to help                            SK
baby powder everywhere

clean, fresh blanket                   AI
baby's scent

spoon airplane
I do a nosedive                         SK
with apricots

rhythmic creak
of the rocking chair                   AI
fast asleep

Shannon Kroner and Alexis Iffert

Family Gathering

Easter Sunday
covered in frost
the egg hunt begins

     child in pink
     spotted with chocolate

wintery wind
tempting . . .
frozen wind chimes

     full table
     food and family
     the wealth of love

ten o'clock mass
alter rising in white

     daddy's whiskers
     on mommy's cheeks
     Easter bunny honey

Rachel Perry & Jennifer Clements

Pitter Patter

Lightening grumbles
I pick up
My pace

Dark clouds
Hover overhead

Flash of light
My mom
Nervously looks out the window

Flooded street
A tree branch
Swims past my house

Forgetting their umbrella
The rain sprinkles their laughter

Clouds break
Sun smiles
Rainbow blankets the town

Matt Eichhorn & Medea Mosxona

walking slowly
gazing onward                                Courtney
old woman

passing bars
trees shivering                                  Beth
cold wind

grass clippings
leaves blowing:                                Courtney
yard work

children flying
from metal swings                            Beth
caught in leafy pile

mother fussing
baby crying:                                     Courtney
parenthood

mother’s arms more than a match     Beth
for the wind

lit cigarette
smoke blowing                                 Courtney
old man coughing

mixing with smog
and soy                                             Beth
modern day air

Beth Stiner & Courtney ??

Lament

listen:
the wind whispers
a lonely tune

floating through
the tree leaves

the walking stick
talks of melancholia
relentless

rain drops splash
like maracas

red-winged blackbird
sings of loss
mourning its mate

I stand at your grave
missing you

Angie Williams

the innocent child
rattles the toy
without a sound

dangling from swings
pairs of tiny feet

under the pavilion
the tormented puppy
finds refuge

delicate fingers
become entangled
in boondoggle

hide-and-go seek . . .
the little boy cheats

the young girl’s kite
blows away
in the wind

Nikki Garry

Art Watching

thick strokes of paint
protrude from
curly hair

     footsteps and music
     sway my attention

the joy of the painter
evinced by
color choice

     swaying in the wind
     I enter

a picture perfect scene
of splashing color
and laughter

awakened
friends and I
head back to the car

Joe Kramp

spring current
fish race
the canoe

     budding tree
     sips from the water

rain clouds
offer them an excuse
more running

     unraveled hose
     mother waters
     the lawn furniture

laying in the damp grass
she finds andromeda
by the moon

     dew on the baseball
     left behind

the coat
dries in the closet

     warm
     long line at the
     drinking fountain

shallow pool
children splash
their parents

     the tulip pokes
     through melting snow

he gives me flowers
i quickly
find a vase

     spring cleaning
     snow globe
     knocked to the floor

crescent moon
mood lighting over the lake

     puddles
     after splashing the policeman
     i drive faster

skinny dipping
he hides my towel

     buzzing mosquitoes
     over the swamp

apple blossoms
wind shakes petals
off the tree

     handing the teacher an apple
     the kindergartener
     peeks over the desk

spring fever
thirty tapping pencils

     swimming pools
     brother warns his sister
     of the shark

low tide
crab makes a run
for the water

     old seashells on the dresser
     old pictures at the beach

aging woman
heavy groceries
tear the bag

     the wind stopped
     sailboat stuck at sea

easter
crying baby
during the sermon

     through the window
     watching children
     flying kites

biking in the woods
trail splits
in two directions

     cool breeze through the window
     scary movie fades from memory

low full moon
the cat
lies in the grass

     sitting on the porch swing
     just noticing the sunset

running water
lulls her to sleep

     quiet snoring
     echoes
     cicadas

swaying tree branches
silent with
the window closed

     waving goodbye
     he drives away
     windows down

the scent of cherry blossoms
a spray of her perfume

     summer nightgown
     an extra blanket

Kerry Hammergren & Meg Schleppenbach

Evolution

in her paper robe
mother holds
her newborn

     training wheels removed
     dads hands clapping

untied cleats and pigtails
the video camera
catches her first goal

dishpan hands
wash away tears
from her first love

     strong hands tremble
     as he gives away the bride

in her paper robe
mother holds
her newborn

Tonya Parrish & Maggie Hart

winter season                            AK
cold and snowy
the horizon left barren

spots of brown                          SC
the grass dead

a squirrel scurries about            AK
looking for acorns
to hoard

glimmer of beauty                     SC
frozen dandelion
hangs its head

looking to the sky                     AK
a blizzard on its way

robin                                         SC
opens her wings
shelter for her young

Andrew Kirchgesner & Jane Millikin

snow melting                                     AK
flowers taking bloom
spring brings a rebirth

naked branches                                  SC
show their buds

sleeping critters                                  JH
wake from frosty slumber
with whistling sunny kisses

the bear wakes                                   AK
from its long hibernation

frozen pond                                       SC
sheet of wet snow
a bunny leaves its tracks

this is a time for happiness                JH
winter is the furthest thing away

Andrew Kirchgesner
Jane Millikin
Jessica Hajek

broken bottles
on my front steps
the quiet of Sunday morning

a child's drawing
on a church bulletin

ancient incantations
the incense
rises

born-again
dripping with baptismal water

the baby
breaths deeply
then cries

white baptism robe
our first-born
watches my smiles

Brock Peoples

long road trip
next rest stop
63 miles

counting trees
doesn't help

side of the road
i squat in bushes
relieved

his turn to drive
silence

crisp spring breeze
flows through
sun warming

road kill
warm scent
sewer

Jane Millikin

"Sunday"

sleeping dog
lady bug crawling
on his ear                                          NK

owners in the kitchen
almost time for brunch                      JL

driving in the countryside
rain drops
appearing on the windshield             NK

no destination in mind
hours pass by
eyes growing weary and still             JL

chasing a bird
the dog stops for water                     NK

sun setting in the distance
next weekend
in my mind                                        JL

Natalie Kussart & Joan Leach