Poets Forum
SENYRU
coin toss decides the mayorship after a tie vote
— Pat Laster Benton
RIDING ON THE WIND
The needle slipped in … instantly,
I was riding fast on the wind. The wind was beautiful colors like a rainbow.
In a short time, I heard the soft murmur of voices, and then ever so clearly I heard someone say,
“You did great, your surgery is over.” —Jeanette Heffington
Benton
HANG ON
Satan goes about this world Seeking whom he may devour.
So always keep your guard up,
Every day and every hour. He knows all our weaknesses
And uses all the tools at his command
To keep us in spiritual trouble
And win us over if he can. Don’t give our enemy an advantage
Or put yourselves in a place of defeat
Yield yourselves to God Don’t let Satan catch you asleep
Just hang on to Jesus He knows what to do.
He’s more powerful than Satan,
And He will see you through.
—Jan Beaty Benton
CRANIUM CRADLE
Have you listened to the personal acoustics ever active inside your skull’s band shell, drawn the shades of your eyes, to absorb unobserved, the most intricate of nature sounds?
Not the thoughts- lists, wishes, attempts at retrieval, plans, recurring calculationsno, the indigenous
signature, organically synchronous sounds you mostly ignore, do not know- proverbiallylike the sunshine sides of your hands.
If you’ve some particular favorite renderings, say… a clan of bullfrogs voicing grunted opinions, nocturnal notes of cicadas in competitive harmony, or the housekeeping wind sweeping through pines . .
you may start, and smile in discovery, finding much of what you seek and savor- there in residence within the articulate space, inside your head bones’ fence.
— Stephen Phillip Johnson Mountain Home
SHEDDING AUTUMN LEAVES
The leaves beneath the tree are spread, a weather change the reason.
Their overlay of brilliant red indicates the season.
A bench sits here to welcome all who might pass by this way while lonely song of cardinal’s call soothes souls who pass today.
Like yesterday when all was green and hearts had songs to sing, the passing of this season’s scene will hold the hearts till spring.
— Dennis Patton Alexander
SENRYU
clean porch windy fall weather dry leaves are laughing
— Cathy Parker Alexander
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To submit poems for publication, please send poems of 16 or fewer lines to Dennis Patton, 2512 Springhill Circle, Alexander, AR 72002, or patton_dr@hotmail.com.