by Adam D. Fisher, 2022

When a grandpa arrives

visits his grandson,

Jimmy jumps up and down,

“Quick grandpa let’s go

bike riding. I want to show you

my secret, magical place.

Please! Please!!” Grandpa

follows recalling that he hasn’t ridden a bike

in forty years and doesn’t know

if he remembers how.

He follows his grandson to the

garage where he finds his daughter’s

bike rusted, tires flat, chain askew.

He pumps up the tires,

adjusts the chain, and gives

it a try. He is wobbly at first but soon

more confident.  He follows Jimmy

to a path in the woods paved with wood chips,

“ See, Grandpa, I told you

this was a secret, magical place.” Just then

a couple walks by with a dog. “Well,” says Jimmy,

“almost secret, but still magical. Let me show you

my favorite tree.” They ride farther. The boy

stops lays down his bike and hugs a giant oak.

“This is the biggest tree in the forest and has magical

powers too.” Grandpa gets off the bike and holds

hands around the tree with his grandson, “You’re

right—it is magical.”

by Charlotte Heotis, edited by Peter Heotis, 2022

Someone inked my trees in black and white

And silently did it over night

Against the covered snow below.

No one signed nor painted it, I know

I’m sure no artist’s canvas could capture

Such a scene of depth and rapture

Praise to God, for the eyes’ delight

Of outlines done in black and white.

by Anne Kelly-Edmunds, 2021

Protection

Cold crocus close tight

purple petals touch

like hands folded in prayer

Daffodils

Trumpets crowned

with golden petals

play on a hillside,

sway with rhythm

Weathering the Storm

Valiant tulips

brave torrents of rain

blasts of wind,

buds ever upward

Peerless Pansies

Possibly purple

Phenomenal

Pert

Perky

Peppy

Preening

Potted

Planted

Picked

Peachy keen

This Morning’s Surprise

In the bathroom sink

orange, yellow, green, blue

a slice of rainbow

by Yvette Malavet-Blum, 2021

I am grateful for the artists who inspires me to write

For the poet who ends her stanza with words of love

For Bruce who walks and talks and moves in poetry and song

Adele who reminds me that growing older makes a person reckless

For the spirit of my son who reaches into my heart and reminds me of my ability to create

And the song that emerges from my mind swinging and moving into being

I am grateful for the artists who paints and leaves me breathless

For the day that I can walk into a museum and find myself inside an artist’s brush work

I am grateful for the love that keeps me breathing and living and singing and moving

And honoring my passion

And recognizing that it is truly mine

My song

My dreams

My love story

My life

My time on earth

My touch so unique and special that I can touch another soul and feel it tremble

Someone of like mind like Bruce and Adele

Thank you for the artists that writes with beauty and leaving me

Writing

About Gratitude

by Anne Kelly-Edmunds, 2021

A hint of yellow runs

upward like a seam,

promises to rent

the tight fabric

of thick verdant protection

against spring’s fickle days

and chilly nights.

Soon, petals that glow

like noontime sunshine

will unfold upward,

open to cup a star

of six jet-black pistils

surrounding the white-gold

gift of stamen.

by Alison Quinn, 2021

Just the tip

by Jennifer Reedy, 2021

by Yvette Malavet-Blum, 2021

I know you’re slipping and you might not know

I grab your time and hold it close

Cause in the moment you are dear

In the moment you are here

We talk away each word a gift

And speak of only what we feel

Cause you were there at my side

You were one with me one of five

How can I comfort you and comfort me

Knowing that it’s time we need

Time that rushes pass by so swiftly

We want to keep it

Slow it down

Where once it was like liquid flowing

Now it’s only moments

We take a moment and reflect on our lives

The same mother the same father the same sisters the same brothers

Our uncles and cousins we have the same last name

Only you understand just how

I came to be as I am now

You were there when I was growing, changing, moving and leaving

I was there at your wedding, the births of your children and all the celebrations

We loved each other’s singing

Then

The death of our parents

Sisters and son

You were there as only a brother can be

You were there

In the moment with me.

by Jennifer Reedy, 2021

Abundant blooms of

Fuschia attracts hummingbirds

An awesome delight!

Cold plastic people

Who weep for our plastic Earth

Glare at plastic phones.

A stunning vision

The yellow magnolia

Is sweetly shining.

Let’s swing by the park

To see the tulips in bloom

Are they finished yet?

Spring’s Cherry Blossoms

Gracefully dance in the wind

Pink snow in my hair.

Miracles of Spring

Mirror Christ’s Resurrection.

Sing Alleluia!

by Yvette Malavet-Blum, 2021

Only I remember when

You twisted inside of me

I felt the rush of life

Ready to come to be

It was us that were born that day

My life opened up so I could see

What it felt to love unconditionally

A life that came from me

Happy birthday my dear son

You live forever in my heart

And you will always be a part

Of all my creativity

We both loved to write

And you won an award for your poetry

I told you that talent

came from me

I framed it

It will always be

What I felt you received from me

Besides my smile that I hold

Close to my heart

Eternally