WISEWOMAN
by Carolyn Wolfe
She stood alone
half in sun
half
in shadow
a tiny monument of a woman
torn like a bright, white strip
of paper
neatly in two
And so she was a beggar
who had never learned what it was to
beg
until now
And she was a leader
of tiny bright consciousness
illuminating souls
with the vision of
elder past times
Living in a decaying era
she taught the hunt
of the heart
to the few left
who had the strength
and the grace
To stand all at once
in sun
and
shadow
Bio:Carolyn Wolfe is a free lance writer, poet, and author of six books including her collections of poetry, short stories and bedtime stories for children. In May 2012 her sixth book, the illustrated children's book "The Unhappy Little Dragon, Lessons Learned" will be on a Virtual Book Tour, and featured on many children's author blogs, complete with interviews and reviews of her book which reveals the story of Happy, and unhappy little dragon, who, while trying to understand how to master his uncontrollable gift of fire, has an exciting adventure in the woods and discovers he is a very special dragon after all. Carolyn also hosts a poetry group, "The Downtown Poets of Winchester" a monthly meetup group that also does performances of their poetry throughout the area. Ms. Wolfe lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her Photographer, husband Scott, and her houseful of animal companions. For more information, please visit her website at: www.whenthemoonspeaks.com.
Halloween Breakdown
by Eira Needham
My engine stalls as twilit skies
devour the night to tantalize
my thoughts. I rush
for help. The narrow roadway seems
deserted, distant creatures scream
'til there's a hush.
Full moon diffuses eerie light
where shadows dance and bats take flight.
I feel a thrill
to spy a cottage through the trees,
its windows rattle while the breeze
is turning chill.
She beckons with a horny finger
saying, Enter … do not linger
there in damp
night air. I scan the room and shiver
… what a sight! Her cackle quivers
as the lamp
light flickers, silhouetting vessels
on the shelves. I try to wrestle
with the crone,
who stirs her pot of spooky things,
that fire my wild imaginings
with flesh and bone.
Outside the wind begins to squall
as time ticks loudly on the wall.
I struggle free
and make a dash towards the door,
her footsteps echo on the floor
not far from me.
I reach the window near the lane
as light glints through the window pane
-- a rooster calls.
She stumbles -- there's a fiery surge;
amidst the smoke, I watch her merge
into the wall.
Bio: Eira Needham Lives in Birmingham UK with her husband and Dalmatian Max. She began writing in 2002 when her youngest son went to University. Her poetry is eclectic and has been published in print and online. Recent acceptances include Red Poppy Review, West Ward Quarterly, The Smoking Poet and Flutter Poetry Journal.
Love Tanka
by Adelaide Shaw
a late night breeze–
drawing nearer I feel your breath
warm on my cheek;
clouds hide the midnight moon
as your lips find mine
a new melody–
my body sways to the beat
in line with yours;
as with life’s changing music
we feel the rhythm in sync
sleeping late
we untangle sheets and legs
for a wrong number;
slowly we slip into love
better than before
pink and purple clouds
seen through the vapor
of our breath;
we linger in the afterglow
of past and future dreams
every day
you express your love
in hundreds of ways
with your eyes, your touch, your smile
there is no need for words
days I have known–
I pick and choose
which to remember;
you share with me
the best of these
Bio: Adelaide B. Shaw lives in a small rural town in upstate New York. Her tanka and other Japanese style poetry—haiku, senryu, haibun—have appeared in several journals in print and on-line. Her poetry may be viewed at www.adelaide-whitepetals.blogspot.com
