by Irene Cantor, 2023

Cloudless blue sky, day alive and bright .

Savagely altered into gray night.

A President calmly teaching his flock,

Innocence stolen before nine o’clock.

Towers almost touching the sky, Cruelly felled as we wondered “Why”.

Our people, though shattered by the vast devastation,

were strengthened by Rudy’s determination.

Seeing the President, bullhorn in hand

Inspired Americans to take a stand.

Old Glory waving proudly from cars East to West,

As our generation would be put to the test.

September Eleventh Two Thousand and One,
An ordinary day when it was begun,

But changed in an instant by that act of war,

When we were reminded, freedom’s worth fighting for.

by Benjamin Thomas Brehl, 2023

For most of this long and perilous trip,
Grandest feeling came following a lost grip.

The calm and balm felt after a frightful storm,
Cool breezes of tranquil aftermath, yet warm.

The fear, dread while in the mental tempest  –
Thought of Ultimate quit, peeks into the abyss.

In its stead, the journey has evolved into a Joy;
Vanquishing terrors fallen to a rejoicing ploy.

Paralyzing moments – doom, gloom gone, rid,
Welcomed jubilation, newfound rest to bid.

The Great Orchestrator has placed a grin
On this spirit  –  heartened, ready for new begin.

Anonymous, 2023

I don’t mean anything to these people
These places
These things
I’ve always been a void filler
A moment passed
A time in their life
But never a solitary figure.
They look at me as disposable
Replaceable.
Compostable.
I try to plant roots
And they get mold
I try to plant roots
And they get cut
I just want stability
But no one seems to want me to stay
So I’ll go again
And again
And again
The hole inside getting bigger, larger, angrier.
I guess I’ll go.. you don’t need me
I guess I’ll go… you all don’t need me
I guess
I’ll
Go
I’m
Not
Needed.

by Adam D. Fisher, 2023

Morning light peeks

through strands

of gray clouds

left over from 

black night. As the day 

goes on, bright light 

brings out the vibrant colors

of yellow tulips until

the earth turns

leaving our world in half-light

until the sun seems to

descend into the western sea

leaving us in dark night.

by Irene Cantor, 2023

Oh, to be a child again.

The ebb and flow of the days, of the months… alas of the years.

Soon it will be your turn, my precious one, to take on the burdens and the joys.

But for now, your life is soft and cuddly and protected.

Oh my child, my dear child.

If you could only remember these times,

Not only for the happenings, but also for the feelings,

And deliver them to your own dear little ones.

Then the days and the months and the years will flow anew,

Oh, to be a child again.

by Adam D. Fisher, 2023

A haiku and two tankas:

1.

Red maple next to

shimmering water flames in 

early October. 

2.

Red cardinals, black

and white chickadees, brown and 

tan sparrows, yellow 

gold finches, house finches’ red 

heads, eat seeds at my feeder.

3.

Red kidney, black, white 

cannelli, tan garbanzos:

beans soak in a pot

like multi-colored pebbles 

in the water at the beach.