By Dennis Patton

HAIKU

powdering her nose morning snow deepens on garden statue

— Sue Watson, Benton

HAPPY PRAYER

Lord, bless this day with love and wisdom as you bless it with the sun anoint each hour with joy and gladness and when the day is done enfold us in velvet darkness to dream of blessings yet to come.

— Olive Mobley, Benton

HAIKU

winter morning sun backlighting a branch of wind-blown oak leaves — Pat Laster, Benton

THE BULL RIDER

There once was a bull rider named Brown who said, “I’m the best rider around.”

He climbed on Dynamite then got bucked out of sight, maybe someday he’ll come back down.

Milan Allinson, Deceased

HAIKU

Bitter cold? Buy a coat, in Arkansas!

Freezing?

Wrap the pipes, in Arkansas!

What! Five degrees? Is it real news? In Arkansas!

Need gloves?

For two cold days?

In Arkansas!

— Cathy Parker, Alexander

CAN’T TOUCH HIM

You almost had me trodden, Underfoot, Destroyed, Discouraged,

You certainly had me rattled.

Oh, but Devil, my faith is strong, Grounded,

Genuine,

Immeasurable,

You certainly had it stretched.

My God is bigger than you, Unyielding,

Matchless, Commendable,

You certainly can’t touch Him.

You’d be a devil if you tried.

— Laura Bridges, Hot Springs

THE COLD IS OVERBEARING

It’s cold outside,

I do declare -it would not matter if I were a bear!

— Lisa Frazier, Sherwood

HAIKU

morning arrived with a brightness and new snow

— Dennis Patton, Alexander

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. The Saline County Branch of PRA is scheduled to meet January 28, 1:00 pm, at the Parkview United Methodist Church, 514 North Border Street, Benton.