OCEAN by Jackie Tajiri

HOLDING HOPE by Sharon Horton

Hope                          
Wish
Desire
with the possibility
of being?
in my reality-
just wasn't to be.
Not as a child
not in my life,
it was about
getting through the moment
my focus- survival
no room for such a word
that was beyond foreign1
Survival instinctive
no expecting, wishing, wanting-
but like a deer frozen
trying to avoid that which
wants to destroy me
Reactive, instinctive response
without thought process.

Only now
is there possibility
of a word, an idea- such as Hope.
Carefully, I hold a glimmer
allow myself to be in its light,
and even while I do this
my child part tries desperately
to push it away.
To her- survival means we cannot hope
I am another adult risking
her survival
A betrayer
she does not understand
that to be alive-
really alive-
we must be able to move beyond
just surviving.
That life can also allow us
to be happy, to risk for better,
In her mind- life is life
there is no changing the bad
and words like happiness
growth
they mean risk
beyond reach
they cause fear- core deep.
It has taken us so long
to survive
to feel safe
to trust anyone again,
now, in her eyes,
I endanger,
I betray!

She see's collapse
where I see chance,
choosing the unknown
over safety
makes no sense to my
child self,
Yet I know
It is a must- for both of us!

We are at a standoff
and like every adult
she's ever known
I have the power over her.
She's left with her fear,
No words I speak
can make her believe that
it will be okay-
and I have no guarantees
except that I
Hold Hope
for the both of us.
-Sharon H.

I BRING NOTHING TO THE TABLE by Elizabeth Hipwell

Belly rolling over through the sinews of my spotty,

Dirty cotton t-shirt.

"I bring nothing to the table," 

It says in bold and broken red letters.

Looking lost,

Caught up in the confines of days of yore

Which dictate who and what I should be. 

I tip my dirty white yarmulke in reverence to the
Customs and spiritual observations of my cultural 
Tradition,

Which gives me a chance to have a semblance of dignity 
In a world which only sees what it sees...

In my overgrown gray hair and beard,

Soiled baggy pants,

Worn out shoes, 

Sans socks, 

And a torn plastic shopping bag.

"I bring nothing to the table."

I am a page off of the reality of life which inspires
This poem,

An understanding of those without empathy,

Intrigue and tradition...

Having an impact on another who sits across from me 
And has worn this t-shirt in her heart...

Searing her soul with the words

"I bring nothing to the table."

Seeing me,

Enabling those BBQ words to come unhinged.

Floating to the surface of consciousness.

Seeing me has inspired another to become overwhelmed 
With respect,

Recognition and compassion.

"I bring nothing to the table."  

I bring everything to the table...

It's just a t-shirt after all,

And can be discarded...

-Image & Words by Elizabeth Hipwell

THE TREE by Sharon Horton

I used to worry I was alone
I used to believe life was worthless

I used to wish I was strong
   Pretty
  Smart

Then one day
I looked out my window
and saw a tree

A tall
Crooked
Perfect tree

I nearly choked
on the epiphany

We arrive inside
an envelope
of bones

There's nothing to be done
about this

so fill it with joy
let it brim with creativity.
-Sharon H.

Untitled by Jackie Tajiri

THE SURVIVING CHILD by Sharon Horton

 The child inside                                   

wants to hide                                       

Fear                                                       

constant tears                                      

Anger                                                    

unknown rage                                       

locked in a cage                                  

on a tight leash                                    

Unable, unwilling, untrusting              

to release                                              

Caring support is around                  

Yet she falls to                                       

the ground,                                             

this child can see                                   

only through the                                    

painful memories                                   

Looking inside                                                    

Remembering why                                

needed to die                                          

for her to survive.                                   

Now again, here they are,                    

vibrant, strong                                           

very much alive                                        

and this child is                                       

Screaming                                                 

"Do Not Try!!!"                                           

Caught between                                       

wanting it so much                                   

and the child’s warning-                          

"Don't try to touch!"                                 

That Fear, That Fall,                                  

is all she can see,                                       

The desperate

impossible leap

to let myself

believe in me.

The past repeats itself,

the reason she

hid the hopes on the shelf

and pretended they were dead

The feelings

Greater than words said

trying to express

what they’re about,

But always scared

to let them out.

Try asserting

“I deserve, I can, I belong!”

but terrified

of being wrong.

the hopes, dreams

out there in a world

where Hope, Trust, Safety

are nothing but

blurs.

The darkness is more

secure.

Alone, with all these

feelings to contend

This child can't trust

there’s a difference

between NOW and THEN

And I, her adult self,

can give no comfort

to my child within.

-Sharon H.

DUEL by Jeanne Cord

The battle rages
Trapped in cages
Lock down
Bars
Straps
Contain
We fight
To remain
     Whole
We fight the 
     Battle
Come out
Into the
     Light
We are tattered
     But we remain
     We sustain
We go on
The fight is mean
No one plays clean
They do not follow
The rules
     For war
They came
To settle the
 Score
Damnation
Hell
But you could
Never tell
Rose petals strewn 
Buildings in ruin
Bombs dropping
People fleeing
Babies dyin'
Famine
Aids
The price
     Is paid
A world
     Shattered
Countries
     That never mattered
Written
Right off
The maps
Generation gaps
The Devil storms
he shows
he knows
But God
     Fights back
Ready
     For the attack
God arms his soldiers
With words of love 
Touches of kind
You will
Find
If you just stay
The duel
     Dwindles
The fight
     Dies down
Love will
     Prevail
Don't be swindled
By anyone
     Who advertises a false
Sale
Fight the duel
And win
Cast away your
Sins
Turn it over
God will
     Prevail
He offers a sweet deal
Don't give up
Fight
Go away from the night
God loves y'all
No matter how many times
You fall
Your crimes
Omitted
All sins you committed
Forgiven
Turn to Him
The only one
No matter what ya done
No need for perfection
Unconditional affection
Say yes y'all
Come to Him
Hear his call
The duel
ENDS
-Jeanne Cord