The Reason | Roy Pullam
Some say fate
Some say destiny
Others say genetics
Or environment
But the final word
Comes from the judge
When he says jail
best contemporary poems
To Lay the Blame | JD DeHart
To lay the blame
is simple, is easy,
is as simple as picking
up a light word, laying
it down thickly,
squarely on someone else
now taking blame
is another matter, feels
weighty, an Atlas feat,
but shuffling blame
is a simple process, barely
lifting a finger, better to
do the heavy lifting.
Melissa | Roy Pullam
We danced around
The AIDS
That was killing her
She so thin
Her skin transparent
A cough
That rocked her body
A boyfriend
She loved
His indiscretion
Writing a death sentence
For her
She did not cast blame
Accepting her lot
Living with the shame
A family
Unable to accept
Unable to forgive
Citing the Bible
For the scarlet death
She would surely face
God’s punishment
For women
Who lay
Out of marriage
I hugged her gently
Knowing the frailness
The reed
That was her body
The last time
I would see her
Death at 24
Joining the other four
He so callously infected
Finding Our Humanity | Richard Kalfus
I am young – only 23
a German student
with a history
like all Germans
of a past
which many want to forget.
Turkish immigrants came to us
in the 60’s and 70’s.
Today second and third generations
feel they are Germans.
My best friend is both a Muslim
and German.
Together we watch as Syrian refugees
enter our country.
And we are proud as these
Seekers of asylum
from a merciless dictator
find refuge here.
Tolerance and acceptance of the “other”
makes us human again –
separating us
from a time
when we Germans forgot
our humanity.
Patriotism | Stan Morrison
Herringbone Harry never wanted to carry a gun, not even a toy one, not even for fun. Harry thought these things could hurt. Better run for cover, run home and tell my mother. Forget about “A Soldier’s Story,” and “Paths to Glory.” “Johnny Got His Gun” is the tale for everyone to learn.
The sergeant said, “Take this gun and fire it on anyone on the MGM lot for practice. Here are our orders, read’em. You’re headed for “Iraqi Freedom.” Rumsfeld anointing oil. Let the tanks run over the cradle of civilization, down by the Euphrates. Fighting terrrrrzm, making the world safe for Hell Burton.
Harry’s gig was a total drag. Harry’s gone home in a body bag. The West Point choir sang a poignant hymn, everyone’s spouting tears or opinions. The television crew is grateful for their safe jobs. Oxymorons invade the senses: holy crusade anti-terrorist offensives mission accomplished.
Not responsible for vehicles parked overnight. Not responsible for damage during shipping. Not responsible for items lost or stolen. Not responsible for clothes left over 30 days. Not responsible for what happened to Harry. Not responsible for anything we ever do or say. Amen.
Uncertainty | Roy Pullam
Like a leaf
In a stream
I cannot determine
The direction
Of the rest
Of my life
What joys
Come my way
What heartaches
Wait beyond the bend
And as much
As I plan
Fate laughs
At my intentions
There are no tea leaves
No crystal ball
Just the morning
That comes out
Of the darkness
Serving whatever
Is on the menu
Be it
Sweet or sour
Twelve Small Poems | Nancy May
fallen snow
off willow branches
empty cot
early spring
melting snow
on willow branches
no answers
to my questions
round the carousel
your child
lost on the beach
finds a fossil
robin’s nest
bare branches
snow in my shoe
on the sea
moonlight ripples
lighthouse on the rocks
memories…
snow drops
from blossoms
footprints
in the snow
willow branches
autumn dusk
I listen
to fond memories
a bumblebee
takes a shower
dew off a leaf
pools
of melting snow
on the beach
a cactus
on a beach
bedtime stories
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