Richard Dinges

Skies

Forgiveness lies not
in blank slate skies
cracked by dying
trees that tremble
when winter whispers
a chilled message
no one hears,
staring skyward,
faces frozen in dismay.
Only a single star
can be seen by day,
so many at night
uncounted. We long
to know what lies beneath
our soles, too timid
to disobey and shift
our steady gaze down.

Erren Geraud Kelly

Street car, Southwest Tenth Avenue, Portland, Oregon

A six foot brunette
Gets on, wearing cut off shorts
And cowboy boots
Rock and roll screamed on various
Parts of her body
As if her milky white skin was too pure
To be defaced
Her legs were as long as the route
We were travelling on
It’s as if Johnny Cash had an affair
With a Goth chick
And this woman was his love child
She’s a train wreck, you can’t take
Your eyes off of, in a good
Way

Lynn Townsend

fragile

haunted by past
moments pile upon moments
old patterns embedded
deep in marrow and sinew
body reacts even before
thoughts contradict
wanting to express differently
long past messages
I no longer want to believe
new experiences
bring new information
yet that triggered story
still exists
still rages through my blood
gut churning
heart in turmoil
fear sneaks in the melee
am I mucking up
one of the best things
that has ever happened to me
love so deep and real
honest and passionate
desire of delving deeper in
seen for who I am
sharing vulnerable belly flesh
as I trudge through
my fragile emotions
willing to risk
yet again
to speak my truth
feel the darkness
exposing my chinks
then seeing in your eyes
the love
adoration
tears of wonder
cascade down
soothing my wobbly soul