January 2010

 

Judged by: Bill Pearl

 

First Place:

 

The Spare Bed 1

by Eliza Praetorius

 

The sky is blue beyond blue

and the woods bright above the diminished creek.

Clusters of leaves lift and dart, weightless

as small birds pushed in the wind.

 

My car is packed and ready to go, but I am still here

sick, sleeping alone in the spare bed.

We talk of love and a life in the spring.

We talk of preparing garden beds.

We shadow dance with what's not there,

as leaves fall and the trees strip bare.

 

 

The Spare Bed 2

by Eliza Praetorius

 

In the morning you come into the room,

into the spare bed and sleep with me.

We are like cool butter, warming

easily, our love smooth and sweet.

How quickly I say yes, make promises

from the safety of this island

bed, not yours,

not mine.

 

 

Second Place:

 

SUII Life

by Linda Levine

　

shutter clicks

action stops

 

our album

holds a timeline

of memories

pinned on pages

like captured butterflies

caught in mid-flight

 

in faded photographs

years melt away

erase wrinkles

and receding hairlines

blur broken promises

 

darkroom images

soften edges

leave youthful yearnings

clothed in mini skirts

and bell bottoms

 

shutter clicks

action stops

 

photos silence sounds

but I can still

hear your smiles

 

 

Honorable Mention:

 

Daughter

by Ruth E. Dickinson

 

Twenty-six years have passed

since we offered your ashes

to your beloved Atlantic.

 

As I carried you

close to my heart

long ago,

I carry you today.

 

Comfort, solace come

in unexpected ways.

 

A gift it was to discover

an early poem of Hopkins',

"A Vision of the Mermaids,"

to imagine you

one of that luminous company.

 

Long, chestnut hair

drifting like a veil

around you,

with your sisters,

you glide

through his "inner firmament."

 

 

Honorable Mention:

 

OLD MEN

by Raymond P. Neubert

 

Pick their noses

Fart

Giggle

Sit on the balcony

Stare at the sunrise

The neighbors

The birds

And the moon

Old Men forget

Laugh before speaking

Change their minds

Drink tea

Travel in their heads

Justify

Love each other's company

Hold on tightly

Write poems

Drink tea and pee

Document - negotiate

Discuss - question - irritate

Drink tea - correct - laugh - pee

Drink tea - pee - pee - pee

 

 

Special Contest: Haiku

 

 

Haiku

by Diane Belleville

　

beneath golden leaves

tiger preys on innocence

scream shatters silence