Parents Night Emma used to do real good in school her mother tells her new teacher. It’s Parents Night at Ryland Elementary. Mostly mothers in attendance. What’s the problem, her mother asks. Fifth grade shouldn’t be hard for her. Emma’s never had a grade lower than a B, her mother says. Teacher says Emma doesn’t do her homework and talks a lot in class. Her mother can’t believe it. Says her […]
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Courage (Getting Out of Bed) My heart grows restless, my limbs heavy The paradox of a frustrated mind The simplest things seem unattainable Before me There are mountains to climb I am eager, yet, sit motionless Failure the constant on my mind I sit and worry …and wonder Before me There are mountains to climb I long […]
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Pulp Thoughts A blank space my white paper. Inkblots, like my thoughts. Dotted lines- a poem appears. The paper, once a tree with flowers, held life and grew. It was chopped down and made into pulp. The pulp dried and I write down thoughts hidden from view.
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ON PORPOISE Am I watching the dolphins Or are they watching me, Somersaulting on backfins, While I swim clumsily? At the junction of our worlds Where the land meets the sea, Somewhat shallow for their twirls, I can stand awkwardly. I’m not native to water; They’re not native to land. Still each other we ought to […]
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On Purpose By: Chanacee Ruth-Killgore Not on water do I walk and, it’s true, I’m challenged by dry land. I can do, though, what I can. It is that alone which matters. All else lingers… shiny and superfluous, full of false promises and deception. I can, however, is honest, humble, bold! And I know that which I can is the must […]
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The Face of Death The doctor has seen the face of death on many occasions. He has seen scars and lacerations. His duty, his call the doctor has seen it all.
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Cover to Cover – By Gil Hoy I’ve loved to read, listen to the melodious flow and tempo of another man’s written words and sentences through my eyes but in my brain, for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, I trekked each day along the cobblestone alley behind our house with a carrier full of books on […]
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“EINE KLEINE STEIN-MUSING” To knock him from his pedestal Is task long overdue. His theories now untenable; No glory privy to. Proclaimed a “genius” famously Because of one eclipse, When none at time knew truthfully The reason for those blips. “It’s space-time’s warping by the sun That makes the starlight bend.” When really then was known […]
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House for Sale in Shady Acres The question isn’t why your little world is suddenly going to hell. The question is what can you do about the black couple touring the house on your block where the sign just went up day before yesterday. The neighbors are calling and everyone’s asking what can be done before they buy it. Old Smitty is barely cold in […]
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Fifty years ago Jane got on a plane and flew away without saying good-bye. Her parents took her, I know. She was only 14 but she could have said good-bye to me, the swain who saw her through our last three years of grammar school when she wore braces, the only girl who had them. Fifty years later at our […]
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