May 2009
FIRST PLACE:
Surprise
by Donna M. Westbrook
I found a lump today
by accident
just before leaving for church
I wasn't looking for anything
just had a little pain
a little
pain
and the lump
where there's always a little lumpiness
before my cycle starts.
This is after-
more than five days after-
when you're supposed to check
though I rarely do.
I thought about my new love
We haven't even kissed yet.
Now what?
When we finally get there
will I have to go?
I'm not afraid of dying
just all the stuff between
finding a lump
and dying
the shocking idea of mortality
and proof of it.
I found a lump today
what is it made of?
what have I put there
when
and why.
Why?
SECOND PLACE:
Dancing On Dew Drops
by Cora Lee Palma-Hayden
Her face a perfect oval, like a rose opening to the sun
Hair glistening in the rain, like dew drops of the morn
When she spoke, a deep throated voice emitted mirth
She was slim and tall as a stately pine
He fell for her, his heart like a porous sponge
Deeply in love, smitten with her feminine wiles
Ardent thoughts tumbled in his head, like acrobats
He was lean and muscular as the mighty oak
They came together, sensual vibrations
Sending waves of passion
The rose and the heart
Dancing on dew drops
HONORABLE MENTION:
Manicure in Progress
by Natalie Freed
Her buffer blurs in the whirl
Of a back and forth path
And the heat of its wings
In flight over ladies nails
She's the little drummer
Each tiny wrist circled in jade
Never missing a beat
Keeping time, keeping speed
So many minutes per lady
Minutes of dollars to send home per day
Customer-lady line
Loops overnight
Buffer not cool when it's already time
Smiling, chatting, saying I used to work
I was teacher, librarian, nurse
Little drummer keeping time, keeping speed
So many minutes per lady
Minutes of dollars to send home per day
A broom sweeps limp and useless.
You need a new one
Customer-lady has freedom of speech
Little drummer buffs, Jade speaks:
Broom good. Better than American
Customer-lady: What American?
They're made in China
Oh, you mean, better than plastic
Little drummer's mouth is a line
Buffer keeps speed, keeps time
Customer Lady keeps smiling
HONORABLE MENTION:
At Eleven Helen Laughs For A Living.
by Janice Fine
Muffled giggles in all aisles
Helen's white conical dunce cap slipping over her eyes,
still she sits, stiff
on the unpainted, wood-latticed high stool -
cornered.
At the sound of the bell
free on her street
She curtsies, mimics the teacher, snickers,
sings, "It's a Must Unusual Day," to her 'customers.'
With Father's World War I helmet extended
she begs
for pennies from neighbors, "street walkers", strangers.
Her long fingers rake in the coins bulging from pockets,
the way a sluice in a swollen river holds back the gold.
Stays out past dark until
ravenous she runs to the roost.
Can not eat; watches her mother stare at her father,
long black facial hairs like chicken feathers unplucked.
Slumps over his bowl, oily strands of hair fall in.
Slurps his dark bean soup, wolfs down his stale roll
in the bleak Railroad Flat.
On Saturday night Helen spies him:
hair slicked back, Cologne splashed.
arms swinging, he jumps down the broken steps,
turns the corner to Lady Luck.
Hatred denies her a moment to douse cold water
on dark eyes burning like sparks of coal from the cellar furnace.
Someday shell leap over the shattered steps,
turn the corner to her Lady Luck.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Wounded Crow
By Katie O'Brien
Who would be a crow who could help it?
Not wishing to stop the endless skies she
fulfills the dreams of a winged watcher.
Her surroundings grow farther from reach.
The sound of her kind lessen.
Her wings like broken wires she once
sat upon disappear
as the removal of her wings restores another to freedom.
SPECIAL CONTEST WINNER: Sijo
Weekend sojourn
by Blake Valin
Weekend sojourns to the city,
why the secrecy, my love?
Weeds of uncertainty are sprouting, dear,
in the garden of neglect.
Their roots are taking hold, darling,
in the fertile soil of my mind.