Winners
Year 4 "SOFT
RAIN" Delicate
drops of water Soft
gray cloud Tiny
ray of sunshine Earth
is whispering gladness --
Submitted by Burmah M. Teague The
winner for February The
sky gets dark, the clouds roll in, The
rain subsides, the grass has had a
drink, --
Submitted by Derek W. Robinson The
winner for March Somehow
I think life would've been boring But
I don't mind his melodious songs Did
I listen intently to what he said that
day Did
he feel he was needed as he let the day
go Good
night! --
Submitted by Altheria D. Wheeler The
winner for April NOSTALGIA Remember
being young? A
mother? A teacher? Remember
trips to Grandma's house, Every
sunrise held such promise Summer
lasted forever. The
world was once your playground, --
Submitted by Jennifer Demers The
winner for May MY
HUSBAND'S YELLOW PLANE My
husband built an airplane. He
puts on his pilot goggles It
roars and quivers and races Who
takes bits and pieces He
flies it in the morning. I
would like to fly with him. It's
just a tiny plane So
I will sit and watch And
hope that from the vantage point --
Submitted by Elouise Hollenbaugh The
winner for June Can
you believe it, here I am My
first ride on the school bus But
soon I settled in Six
years have gone by Where
has the time gone So
now a new journey begins I'll
continue to learn as well as grow You
can teach me and guide me No
one knows what I'll become Just
cherish every memory Don't
ever give up hope --
Submitted by Tammy Graham Motola The
winner for July JOHNNY
SHILOH As
he heard the cannons boom And
as he laid there in the darkness, And
he said a silent prayer, "And
Dear Mother, if I should die, The
night did pass so fast, They
formed a line of battle, But
suddenly he fell, And
as the aid men found him, With
his last breath upon his lips, --
Submitted by Lawrence L. Ginglen The
winner for August AUGUST
DRY Too
long the summer sun beat down Leafy
shaded places, few. Tired
gardens rearrange, Blindly
then the June bug falls. --
Submitted by Mary Ellen Smith The
winner for September When
I hear the words "Stock Market" my mind
begins to race. I
think not only of a place, but of innocent
lives. Not
prepared to be alone, and not prepared to
go, I
will remember a day that was so shocking
and sad, God
Bless America, Land of the free, Home of
the Brave. --
Submitted by Jenny L. Harshbarger from
State College, PA The
winner for October ON
SHEETS OF SILK Entrancing
is her lucent face Her
pearly skin lies on a bed So
radiantly lying there In
virgin white she glows in ways Each
silken fold where she reclines --
Submitted by Elizabeth Santos The
winner for November THE
ONE THAT NEVER COMES Where
do Sneezes come from? Sneezes
start as a tiny tickle Your
eyes may start to water Though
some may be little Once
the sneeze is gone A
sneeze is not really that bad Submitted
by Leslie Prichard The
winner for December THE
FIRST SNOW The
first snowflakes falling on the
ground, Each
delicate flake so different from the
rest Spider-like
lovelies caught in outstretched hands, Oh,
how gracious the gentle flow, --
Submitted by Floriana Hall from Akron,
Ohio
Category: "Rain"
Floating to the earth
Wet kisses caressing
Everything that thirsts.
Snuggling to the ground
Embracing everything in sight
Spreading tenderness all
around.
Sneaking through the mist
Leaving rainbows and diamonds
Thrown from its shining fists.
For the fog, the rain, and sun
It means that Mother Nature
Can keep life's cycle run.
from Chickamauga, GA
EMAIL: burmahteague@msn.com
Category: "Mother Nature"
Lightning strikes, and the fun
begins...
The winds start blowing, and the rain then
falls,
Mother Nature's having a
ball...
Just a few minutes for Mother Nature to
think...
The sky turns clear, and the sun then
shines,
Mother Nature has changed her
mind.....
from Houston, TX
EMAIL: waregledr@webtv.net
Category: "Snoring"
without my love's intrusive snoring
Loudly he barrels right into my dreams
from gentle sighs, to boisterous
streams
They serve to remind me when something's
gone wrong
Did I forget to hug him and kiss him
goodnight
Did I forget to cuddle him as he reached
for the light
Communicating his importance in every
way
Did I stroke his brow, as he counted
sheep
Did I whisper I love you as he fell
asleep
How much did I show him, how much did he
know
My questions are silenced when the day is
done
when he pulls me near and we snore as one
...
from Torrance, CA
EMAIL: oneinspired@hotmail.com
Category: "The Past"
Remember being free?
Remember childhood dreams
of all the things you'd someday
be?
A rock n' roll star?
A poet? An actress?
It all seems so far...away.
And the silly songs you'd sing?
Remember pom-pom hats and snow angels?
(And mittens on a string!)
And at the closing of each day,
A simple prayer to Heaven
Could wash all your cares away.
A year seemed so long.
Mom and Dad were superheroes
And could never do you wrong.
And all you had was time.
Remember wishing you were older?
Remember the day you changed your
mind?
from Derry, NH
EMAIL: vixen_x_78@yahoo.com
Category: "Airplanes and
Flying"
It's such a pretty thing.
He painted it all yellow
With a brown stripe down the
wing.
And sits in the pilot's seat
He revs up the engine
That doesn't miss a beat.
And then soars into the sky.
I sometimes sit and wonder
About this amazing guy,
To build a flying machine
That's as beautiful as any
That I have ever seen.
He even flies at noon.
But never ever does he fly it
With the evening moon.
But I know that I must not
Because with extra weight
The engine gets too hot.
With a twenty foot wingspan.
And only meant to hold
One solitary man.
As through the sky he soars
Over the hills and lakes
And also the marshy moors.
Where I am always standing
I will see him return and
Make his safe taildragger
landing.
from Plymouth, IN
EMAIL: teacher@dnsonline.net
Category: "Graduation"
Moving on my way
It seems like elementary school
Just started the other day.
Both Mom and Dad waved goodbye
I still can't figure out
Why Mom stood there and cried.
And the learning all began
I never thought I could be so smart
Of course the teachers had a
hand.
Friendships have been made
Some will last a lifetime
What I've learned will never
fade.
Boy, have I grown
My teachers have taught me well
Their love plus knowledge stands
alone
It's all waiting just for me
I have so many dreams
Life holds the many keys.
I'll be the best I can be
But remember forever, Mom and Dad
Please always be here for me.
Even walk beside me, continuing to lead
the way
But Values, Respect and Love
Are the things I will need
everyday.
So give me space to grow
Let me be all I can
For these years will quickly go
Remember the good with the bad
I'm a mirror of my environment
I'm you, Mom and Dad.
Please always believe in me
And one day like today
I'll have become all I wanted to
be.
from Midlothian, Virginia
EMAIL: TGMotola@aol.com
Category: "W A R !"
And roaring in the night,
He knew that in the morning,
He'd be goin' to the fight
With his comrades all around,
He wondered who would be left
As the evening sun went down.
To his lord of which he knew,
To watch over him and keep him,
When the deadly bullets flew.
Just know that this is true,
I followed my country's flag,
For the love of all of you."
And he heard the bugels call
For the men to assemble quickly,
For battle, one and all.
And moved out into the fight,
As the bullets flew around him,
In the early morning light.
And on the ground he lay,
With blood upon his chest,
And his face was turning grey.
They tried to do their best.
But Johnny Shiloh cried to all,
"It's now my time to rest."
As his life was closing fast,
He whispered, "Thank you, Lord,
"And Mother, I'm home at last."
from Havana, IL
EMAIL: lpging@fgi.net
Category: "Hot Weather"
burning grasses into brown,
igniting dreams of shallow pools,
blues and greens of mossy
cools.
Noontime's arrival drunk on dew,
lingering long overhead
till thirsty flowers wilt in
bed.
harking the call of season's change.
Growing in longer hours
are pumpkin vines and burnt
sunflowers.
September in the distance calls.
August dry and almost faint
the trees bring out their autumn
paint.
from Whittier, Calif.
EMAIL: kipsmith@agapeis.net
Category: "The Stock
Market"
I am not thinking about stocks anymore. I
am thinking about a place.
A place that no longer stands so firm and
tall.
A place that America never expected to
fall.
A place that held mothers, fathers,
husbands and wives.
I think of children who are alone and
scared,
and all of those people who were not
prepared.
All the loved ones still hanging on to
that little bit of hope.
The words "Stock Market" will never mean
the same to me.
When I hear those words, I will instantly
think about a tragedy.
a day that made all of America mad.
My heart goes out to all affected on that
unforgetable day.
Always hold on to your memories and we
should all continue to pray.
EMAIL:
jharshbarger@atchealthcare.com
Category: "The Moon"
A beauty many eyes will trace
So pale, yet glowing as a beam
Of fantasy in slumber's dream
In smoothness of the woven thread
She spreads across the downy sheet
To feel the plush of every
pleat
On lovers' pillow, pale and bare
She comes to me on nights like this
And lures me with her
loveliness
That spin my head in lover's gaze
So much enchantment to consume
This radiance of silver moon
Is edged in sheen of satin lines
Please stay, sweet moon, to light the
hair
Of one who will be lying there
from Pottstown, PA
e-mail: escheffey@aol.com
Category: "Sneezes"
I really do not know
You can have a sneeze anytiime
In sunshine, rain or snow
Somewhere high up in the nose
Then that itchy feeling
Well, it grows and grows and
grows
And they most certainly will close
Then with great force and volume
That sneeze - it will explode
Others so big they hurt
It may not cause a fuss at all
Or it may get stuff on your
shirt
Relief is what you get
But then here comes another one
On that you can surely bet
Once it's said and done
But the worst sneeze of all
Is the one that never comes!
from Albuquerque, NM
EMAIL: twplaw@sprynet.com
Category: "Snow"
Soft and pure without a sound,
Mystical, magical fairyland found
Like a crystal ball swirling round and
round.
Blanketing the earth with nature's
zest,
Unblemished white scenery really the
best
Putting spring, summer, fall to visual
test.
Evaporate quickly as we walk or stand;
Glorious seasonal garments ever so
grand
Carpet the earth of our prosperous
land.
The rapture of the first beautiful
snow,
Breathtaking like a precious gem's
glow,
God's gift for all of us to know.
EMAIL: Floriana102@aol.com