July Selections, Three of Five

Just a moment please

There is something I've been wanting to say to you

Waiting for just the right moment

Gotten so much older now though

Can't seem to remember what it was

--Dennis Baker

Since I am here with you,
being caught so,
the thorns press against my feet.
After I had lost all patience,
Sitting there in nowheresville,
A scent from a long, long road
Dawned in my mind.
Loss, and then some more,
But we arrive at rosebeds to lie in.
Maybe we keep growing shoes just for the pleasure
Of taking them off - that moment when our feet break free.

--Chris Gaffney

filling kitty's water bowl

serving her the moon

cat laps the moon

from her water bowl

all full

--Patrick Mizelle

Fourth July Selection

golden sunrays
awaken the ripe red
cloud dusk underbelly.

wisps of white
cirrus obliquely
illuminate

the lone bat
that circles and circles its own
silhouette

circles mourning
doves perched out on black
utility lines.

circles cabbage
palm leaves stroking darkness in
the breeze.

five years
I’ve wandered alone this road of
evening solitude.

past homes
lawn sprinklers and
flowering vines.

past fences
dogs barking and empty
front porches.

with one hand
I've waved hello to nothing and nothing
has changed!

--Glen Snyder

Fifth July Selection

Inga’s Poem

She will eat some applesauce

but will not take a prune

If I had blueberries

or raspberries

blue for her eyes

red for her cheeks

but I do not

If I had blueberries or raspberries

we would laugh

both of us

She would grasp berries

red and blue in her small white hand

sticky juice would stain

her lips and cheeks and chin

And if I had blueberries or raspberries

both of us would laugh

while she

filled her mouth

handful by purple handful

with summer

--Claire Josephine