Chad Parenteau

Sun

The sun barks

our neighbors awake.

It scares away

the terrified hissing fog

then keeps barking 

and will not stop.

Michelle Smith

A Sun's Stage

Sun did you warm her face

Sun did she pray silently
for to be absent of the body

is to be present with the Lord
What illness of led her
astray from life's compromise

Bargaining 
Sidewalk waiting in a wheelchair
Neck positioned back
Mouth opened
had she gasped for air
one last breath and no one there
Sun you were her daylight
Was she wanting and waiting
for someone
Sun you were her friend
Your rays and beams
Her skin not ashen, 

the paleness is seen
As is rigor mortis and the
color of her  brown semi wavy 

hair has set in
No struggle of self fighting
because of her resting elbows
to hands on the armchair

Sun your radiance provided
ascension to the gates of God's glory
Her red blouse Valentine's Day
Red a color in Chinese culture
fortune and prosperity
Sun you are the gold her mind
may have imaged as she faded away
Into your hands Lord she is free

Spring into Summer 

Sunburst spiderweb 

Signed shadow sidewalk showing 

Succinct success seen

Sidewalk shaped sightings

Spring into summer lights leave

Strong seasons shadow

Patricia Murphy

PLAGUE AT THE POOL IN THE SUN

Problems plague the reflecting pool in the sun

At the White House 

Where President Trump

Sits in the Oval Office 

In his suit and tie.

While the economy 

Gets worse

And costs keep rising.

Where is his promise 

To make America great again.

Still, we sit and wonder

Never to ponder

As we look yonder

Ever fonder

Only to flounder.

JUNETEENTH DAY

Juneteenth Day is the day made with the sun.

In 1839, when slaves were freed.

Now they have freedom,

Can vote and use bathrooms

Or go into a restaurant.

They are no longer

Disrespected and 

Treated like animals

But human beings

With rights of their own.

They can fly

High in the sky

Like a kite

On a one-way flight.

It is so right.

So, take a bite

And keep it light

Shining bright

To the plight

Of a mite.

Mary Jennings

Waking up from confusion and inertia

 

In harried dreams, I am hurried,

no time to mull over my mistakes.

Moaning about them comes to no good,

as if I’m hankering for a handout.

I am only weary, and praying 

for a way out

before the dust settles,

and pronto.

 

Oh, to walk upon the sand

under the sun,

instead of being pent up

with the bedbugs in my wake.

 

Waking up 

from confusion 

and inertia

I resurface

No need to hurry

No need to worry

No need to suffer

All that I have is sufficient

 

gia civerolo

I am running into a New Year

Fall on wet grey pavement

Literally

Figuratively

 

I decide to push myself up

Taste star drops on my tongue

Years linked together 

Chains of paper dolls

 

Childhood intertwined by DNA

When did the bough break?

Along with your mind

Year of rocking horses

 

I am running into the New Year

On top a speckled spotted horse

Gallop along the Rio Grande

I keep up with the flow 

 

Water rushes, shimmer

yellow reflects and clings to

White Aspen branches skinny like

Ballet dancers choreographing wind

 

I am running into the New Year

I knew you when you were

16, 26, 36, decades more

I forgive you if it helps

 

You bite, I still rescue

Paper doll pieces fall

Confetti snow in a snow globe 

1 drowning is better than 2

 

Comfort quilted covered trundle 

beds with rainbow colored stuff animals

London Bridges falling down

Ollie Ollie oxen free

 

I am running into the New Year

With or without you

 

Inspired by Lucille Clifton's “running into a new year”

 

 

where do ladies lie

“Dead men tell no tales.”

                                                                                         No murder confessions ever 

 

Where do ladies lie?

R A Ruadh

Price of spring

Finally a sunny day
a perfect start to black fly season
but I soldier through their attacks
planting flowers in hanging baskets

It feels good to have dirt
under my fingernails
blackening my hands 
and nose as I swipe at flies

Pansies, sweet alyssum
nasturtiums and some ivy
overflowing and gracefully
trailing in the wind

As I press the flowers
into the dirt a tiny breeze
brushes my hand
a bee exploring the blossoms

Almost done and a rumble
circles around my elbow
announcing the arrival of
an emerald green hummingbird

I endure the biting flies
so as not to disturb bee or bird
knowing I will scratch for days
in memory of their pollinating visits

Blue Ridge sky at 6

I lie back and let myself
rise into the sky

I am surrounded by stars
endless darkness a sense of sound

I miss my sense of smell
cannot feel body breath 

I find freedom has a price
nothing can touch or harm

I am alone while at one
all and nothing at the same time

I wonder how long to stay
and if the earth will still be there

I lie back and let myself
fall from the sky

Edward S Gault

MEMO TO PROFESSOR GRAVITAS

 

Memo to: Professor Gravitas

From:      The Universe

 

Dear Professor,

It has come to our attention that

You have been giving the same lectures 

On physics for forty years.

We're tired of hearing them.

We're going to make some changes now.

The entropy staff has been getting bored,

So, from now on we're going to cause chaos 

In the spaces just cleaned and create order 

In the space where there is clutter.

Oh, and we're going to hide stuff more.

Good luck finding wallets, car keys, and money.

The staff thought this might be great fun.

Atoms have now unionized

Electrons are now on strike for better orbits.

Protons are demanding better hazard pay 

For being in the nucleus.

They are negotiating an arrangement 

In which they can trade places every month.

Folks in the Anti-matter world are getting tired

Of being the villains in your sci-fi novels and movies.

They are not evil, in fact, considering your long history,

You’re eviler than they are, - so knock it off.

Be respectful. Anti-matter, matters.

Time is getting tired of being stared at.

So, from now on, when you look at the time, 

It's just going to stop.

It will only operate when you look away, 

Then go at double speed. 

It may also want to loop back and re-do moments you goofed.

So, get ready to do serious time on those exams! Bvr

Light photons have said they don't care 

To travel in straight lines anymore.

Life is too short, and they wish to take more scenic routes.

The sun will rise and set when we choose.

So, be alert!

Sound is going to be re-organized,

Thunder is going to come before lightning.

Lightening will be following from now on.

So when you least expect it, expect it!

Also, light particles want to be paid too,

So, add that to your utility bill.

Blackholes are cutting back on their diets.

They are strictly vegan now, and consuming only photons.

Friction is going to start really getting on your case.

Step out of line, and you will feel it.

Sadly, the laws of thermodynamics have filed for divorce,

Citing irreconcilable differences.

The first law got the house.

The second law supports itself

With a podcast on "Embracing Disorder"

To pay alimony.

So, there you have it professor.

We will be looking forward to hearing your lectures

This semester,

Yours,

The Grand Imperial Particle.

Heather Romero-Kornblum

Sunny

When life gives you some

sort of citrus fruit, make

an Aperol spritz

Sunstruck

“I needle my sap

onto the page

Seeds into 

the ether”

When I was a flower,

I wrote about 

how I forced 

myself to blossom

to crank out 

moist colors

from parched ground

How I grew rays

Halos

Wings

How near death

there was a light

It wasn’t me

Sun-phobic

Blazes of orange

Troll-doll carrot top

I declare war!