“PHOSPHORESCENCE. Now there's a word to lift
your hat to... to find that phosphorescence, that light within, that's the
genius behind poetry.”
POEM OF THE MONTH
THE TIP OF MY TONGUE:
DISSOLVING THE PROBLEM TO FIND…
DISSOLVING THE PROBLEM TO FIND…
by Byron Benjamin Hoover
As I’m searching for the right word
I often get sidetracked by the absurd
It’s right there on the tip of my tongue
Oh, gee, ummm…if only I were young
A, B, C, D, E, F, G…
I say the alphabet—it works…usually.
Whatchamacallum, Doodad, Watchamacallit,
Doohickey, thingamabob…I just can’t recall it!
You know…the guy, he’s tall, that movie, the girl
I plow through my mind, but the word won’t unfurl
I get lost in my quest—overturning each stone
I’m knocking on the door, but I can’t bring it home
I’ll enumerate every bone every groove every joint
So why won’t my tongue reach its tipping point?
I guess that being without bone, my tongue is somewhat prone
To move when it wants and to have a mind of its own
So I shall bypass my tongue and use my last bit of trickery
I’ll forget about finding that word and it’ll come back to me
I flood my mind and get it tied up in other thoughts
The weather, the waves, the ocean, the knots
Till my odyssey reaches full dilution
Suddenly, by siren, I stop
It bobs to the top
The solution
BYRON BENJAMIN HOOVER has been writing poetry for the last 15 years, but has just recently started to submit for publication. He is a high school teacher of both Psychology and Philosophy and a happily married father of two. Contact
MARCH INTO APRIL
by Abigail Wyatt
On the first day of
spring the sun shines at last
but, too soon, the
blue darkens and breaks,
hurls down its fury in
bright perfect stones
that rattle at our
windows like small lead;
then rabbit, passing
by, scuttles for cover,
twitches his busy,
tender nose;
round as a dormouse,
he hunkers down,
hunches himself in
towards the wall.
All winter long he has
shrugged off the rain,
dreamed instead of
sunbeams in pools;
now, he and I, we are
once again in winter;
and the trees are yet
to bloom to new leaf.
 |
Rabbit Feeding Near My Home, Credit: Abigail Wyatt
|
ABIGAIL WYATT lives in the shadow of Carn Brea in Cornwall. She writes poetry and short fiction. In June, 2012, 'Old Soldiers, Old Bones and Other Stories' became available. Visit her new Blog. Contact
~~~~~
LEGACY OF EMILY DICKINSON
by Susan Marie Davniero
Lore of legend raise
Gifted poet’s praise
The creative source
For poetry’s course
Solitude inviting
Recluse for writing
Pining away alone
Set the poet’s tone
Life of isolation
Denied recognition
The myth has last
Recluse of Amherst cast
Success later came
In posthumous fame
Her poetry is left
To speak for itself
As legends grow old
A story left untold
By the poetry creation
Legacy of Emily Dickinson
SUSAN MARIE DAVNIERO is a published poet listed in "The Poet's Market 2011." She writes in traditional rhyme verse and has been published in various publications including Pancakes in Heaven, Coffee Ground Breakfast, Long Short Story, Great South Bay Magazine, Write On, The Poet's Art, Creations, Poetic Matrix, Pink Chameleon, Shemom, and others. She has also written essays and letters published in newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Daily News, Newsday, Ladies Home Journal, and Saturday Evening Post. Her blog “Susan Marie” is her writing history. They don't know her; yet, by way of writing they might. She is never at a loss of words. She has found her place as a writer and a poet. With every poem published she is inspired to write more. Writing feeds her soul - literally food for thought. Contact
~~~~~
BEAUTY ROOTED IN LOVE
by Floriana Hall
Beauty, intoxicating the holder
And the beholder.
Seed of love
The most exalted of all feelings.
Like a rose,
A symbol of fragrance and loveliness.
Beauty begets love,
Love blooms with a spirit of enchantment.
The sweet perfume of the lover's own scent,
Unlike some flowers, does not fade.
It blooms fresher each day,
In sun, rain, or frost.
The rose is resplendent at dawn
And later leaves only a thorn.
True love inspires selflessness
Ever growing, a rose always worn.
Never a thorn,
True beauty is love that endures forever.
FLORIANA HALL was born in 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a Distinguished Graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School, Ohio in June 1948, and attended Akron University. She is an author and poet of 17 inspirational books, nonfiction and poetry. All of her books are available on Amazon.com. She has five children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She is the founder and coordinator of THE POET'S NOOK at Cuyahoga Falls Library. Contact Website Website
~~~~~
APRIL SNOW
by Patricia Crandall
The night
is a clone of January.
The morning
is sweet and golden
as an April sun.
Snowdroppings fall
from Icelandic trees.
A lone mallard
floats downstream.
PATRICIA CRANDALL has three books in print: a thriller, THE DOG MEN, a historical volume, MELROSE: THEN AND NOW, and a poetry book, I PASSED THIS WAY. She is currently working on an adventure/thriller novel and a book of bottle mining adventures. She lives with her husband on a lake in the Grafton Mountains in upstate New York. Contact Website
~~~~~
THE SYNTAX POET
by John Grey
Every “i” is capitalized.
Every word is spelled out to the max.
No sentence is clipped.
Periods, commas, semi-colons
are exactly where they should be.
But what a cruel jest.
He’s really lowercase.
He does things as they sound.
One thought can’t finish
because the next one interrupts.
And he cannot stop, can’t even pause,
not long, not short, not anyhow.
He still writes poetry.
But subject matter has passed him by.
JOHN GREY is an Australian born poet. Recently published in International Poetry Review, Sanskrit and the science fiction anthology, “The Kennedy Curse” with work upcoming in Bryant Literary Magazine, Pennsylvania English and Nerve Cowboy. Contact
~~~~~
CLUTTER
by Debbie Hilbish
Please oh please don’t come inside
it’s not exactly that I hide
this room so crowded with old thoughts
It’s just embarrassing to say
no time’s been taken to get them array
Life has moved on and the moment to speak
or put into action that fancy has peaked
but the idea
these words could be useful someday
is why I seem never to put them away
Perhaps out of context
some were once spoken
creating a strange yet memorable token
Pulled out for an occasional laugh or two
for the most part
left randomly tossed
with the rest of the clutter spanning across
life’s changes reflected in words
So here I have gathered them
carelessly flung
believe me not one has been neatly hung
In each nook and cranny they are aswarm
like colored scarves let loose in a storm
some knotted together so randomly
t’would be impossible to see
which
might have been one thought complete
without others entangled at their feet
warped and wreathed just enough
to twist and change and make it tough
to construe one true meaning
color, context, intent, and purpose
enfolded in places
that indicate spaces
I never really experienced before
That’s what my room of old thoughts is for
I’ll sort this clutter some day
Until then
please Oh Please stay away
DEBBIE HILBISH has been writing poetry since she was a young teen. Her first book of poetry was published in 2007, followed by a published chapbook in 2010. Debbie has held poetry readings throughout the southwest and had seminars, sponsored by Arizona and New Mexico libraries, on poetry appreciation for young adults. She also hosted an eight week author’s fair at The Reader’s Oasis bookstore in Quartzsite, Arizona from 2008 through 2012. She is presently directing her energy towards working on her first novel. Contact
~~~~~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KISS
(Dedicated to sister
Teresa's birthday, April 17)
by Susan Marie Davniero
Remember birthdays of the past
Memories of childhood last
As little girls it begins
Birthday wishes from the twins
To give their older sis
A Happy
Birthday kiss
Years bring many birthdays
Sisters part separate ways
Today birthdays may remain
Yet are just not the same
Birthday wishes miss
Happy Birthday kiss
 |
Teresa’s 6th birthday kiss from her twin sisters, Laura and Susan
Credit: Susan Marie Davniero
|
SUSAN MARIE DAVNIERO is a published poet listed in "The Poet's Market 2011." She writes in traditional rhyme verse and has been published in various publications including Pancakes in Heaven, Coffee Ground Breakfast, Long Short Story, Great South Bay Magazine, Write On, The Poet's Art, Creations, Poetic Matrix, Pink Chameleon, Shemom, and others. She has also written essays and letters published in newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Daily News, Newsday, Ladies Home Journal, and Saturday Evening Post. Her blog “Susan Marie” is her writing history. They don't know her; yet, by way of writing they might. She is never at a loss of words. She has found her place as a writer and a poet. With every poem published she is inspired to write more. Writing feeds her soul - literally food for thought. Contact
~~~~~
TRASH OUT IN APRIL
by JD DeHart
Air is warming
Snow is a distant memory
Voices are louder now
Everyone collects outside
The clink of glasses
Bouquet of peach wine
I try not to make eye contact
Several houses down
From the backyard party.
JD DEHART has been writing off and on for the past few decades, and his work has appeared in Steel Toe Review, Eye on Life, and Manic Fervor, among other places. Contact Blog
~~~~~
SHARED WALLS
by Patricia Wellingham-Jones
For once I didn’t get as
neighbors
a biker and his babe
pounding against the
headboard
with squeals and grunts
or the fighting family
with two kids
and a non-stop crying
baby.
Tonight on the other side
of the thin sheet of
wallboard
a Sherlock-wannabe
practices trills on his
violin,
pipe smoke seeping through
the vent.
Now and then he gets it
right
and I fancy I can hear
water burble
or wait, that’s the shower
on the other side.
I drift, feel
travel-lucky,
let myself float on the
raft of music,
enjoy the now-lilting
strains
of half-remembered Mozart
sliding through the motel
wall.
PATRICIA WELLINGHAM-JONES is a former psychology researcher and writer/editor with poetry widely published in journals, anthologies and Internet magazines. She has a special interest in healing writing, leads a cancer center writing group, and has work in several anthologies on related subjects. Chapbooks include Don’t Turn Away: poems about breast cancer, End-Cycle: poems about caregiving, Apple Blossoms at Eye Level, Voices on the Land and Hormone Stew. Contact
~~~~~
INTERPRETATION
by Rebecca Rose Taylor
Words tangled together like a chain’s coil
Artistic license that some would renew and others revoke
Need to read between the lines to find the clues like a word search
World’s abstract views like paintings
Some see beauty in an image and others pain
The globe’s giant canvas stretches far and wide
Some welcome nature and others city life
Expressions that could be considered compliments or slights
Life’s winding paths that bring strength and strife
Earth’s challenges not just black and white
Thought-provoking interpretation that requires more than a reference book
And a ride that continues through it all.
REBECCA ROSE TAYLOR is passionate about writing. She likes the way poetry makes her feel. Some of her recent poems have been published by Long Story Short, Halcyon and Barebacklit. Rebecca lives on a farm in the country in the province of Quebec. Contact
~~~~~
RAINBOW IN APRIL
by Michael Lee Johnson
April again,
the wind
falls in love with itself
skipping across asphalt
and concrete bare
with the breaking weather.
A rainbow
is half arched,
broken off deep
into the aorta
of the sky.
It hangs
from elastic
rubber bands
of mixed colors
dipped in God’s
inkwell,
airbrushed
by the fingertips
of Michelangelo.
April again,
the wind steps high.
 |
 |
MICHAEL LEE JOHNSON lived ten years in Canada during the Vietnam era: now known as the Itasca, IL poet. Today he is a poet, freelance writer, photographer who experiments with poetography (blending poetry with photography), and small business owner in Itasca, Illinois, who has been published in more than 750 small press magazines in 26 countries, and he edits seven poetry sites. Michael is the author of The Lost American: From Exile to Freedom (136 page book),which is available at Amazon and iUniverse, several chapbooks of his poetry, including From Which Place the Morning Rises and Challenge of Night and Day, and Chicago Poems. He also has 69 poetry videos on YouTube. Contact Website Website
~~~~~
FRUITFUL FORGIVENESS
by Shirley Securro
"Go and sin no
more"
Jesus said
"Father forgive
them"
as
he bled
On the cross that
mournful day
He came and taught us
how
to pray
A baby born to die for
all
He
died Because of our fall
Trust and obey
there's a better way
Forgive the sin
Be
with Him again!
SHIRLEY SECURRO has been published
in "Best Poems and Poets of 2005," "Who's Who In
International Poetry," "Famous Poets of the Heartland," and
more. She was a finalist in a chapbook contest with AMERICA "Let Freedom Reign" OUR SACRIFICES OUR HEROES
by Bear House Publishing. She has designed two book covers for other authors
and does poetry readings for churches, weddings, funerals, and meetings. Contact
KEROUAC’S ROOM
by Roger Singer
A brown box radio
plays scratchy songs
into
a room
where
outside neon lights
breathe
a fuzzy hum
of
blue and red
through
weathered curtains
as
the river far below
rumbles
deep past the
town
covered in soot
as
he groans out a
snappy
beat
on
a pawn shop typewriter
decorating
paper
with
his thoughts from
dreams
and travel
and
diners where cold
food
is served by waitresses
named Flo
and
where its
always
raining outside
when
he wants to leave
to
go
somewhere
out there
past
the open window
and
the river
and
everything he wants
to
leave behind.
ROGER
SINGER served as a medical technician at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida for
three and a half years during the Vietnam era. While stationed at
MacDill, he attended evening classes through the University of Tampa.
When discharged, he began studies at the University of South
Florida and attained his Associate and Bachelor degrees. In
1977, Dr. Singer attained his chiropractic doctorate from Logan College of
Chiropractic in St. Louis, Missouri. He has had over 500 poems published in
magazines, on the Internet and in books. His poetry has appeared in
Westward Quarterly, Black Book Press, Avocet, SP Quill, The Unrorean,
Underground Voices, Language & Culture and The Tipton Poetry Journal. Contact
~~~~~
EASTER BONNETS OF LACE
by Susan Marie Davniero
In their Easter Bonnets of lace
Three darling sisters pose in place
Bathed by the glow of sunlight
Shining in Heaven’s spotlight
Together they stood dressed alike
Fashions sewed by Mom in white
Holding hands on bended arm
Spun a circle of loving charm
This is the day the Lord has made
Three sisters bow and prayed
Dressed in their Sunday best
On this Easter Day, God Bless
On this Easter Day, God Bless
 |
| Susan, Teresa and Laura in their lace Easter bonnets Credit: Susan Marie Davniero |
SUSAN MARIE DAVNIERO is a published poet listed in "The Poet's Market 2011." She writes in traditional rhyme verse and has been published in various publications including Pancakes in Heaven, Coffee Ground Breakfast, Long Short Story, Great South Bay Magazine, Write On, The Poet's Art, Creations, Poetic Matrix, Pink Chameleon, Shemom, and others. She has also written essays and letters published in newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Daily News, Newsday, Ladies Home Journal, and Saturday Evening Post. Her blog “Susan Marie” is her writing history. They don't know her; yet, by way of writing they might. She is never at a loss of words. She has found her place as a writer and a poet. With every poem published she is inspired to write more. Writing feeds her soul - literally food for thought. Contact
|
APRIL MAY
by Floriana
Hall
April may drop in with a sprinkle
Or it may spread a smile of sunshine
Whatever happens, it is a time to ponder
On the beauty of Mother Nature.
Or it may spread a smile of sunshine
Whatever happens, it is a time to ponder
On the beauty of Mother Nature.
Mother Nature is changeable
And cannot make up her mind
Which season she identifies with
Winter or spring, sometimes in between.
There may be a rainbow after the storm
And sunshine most days is the norm,
There may be crocuses or daffodils
Thirsty for some of the spills.
Spring cleaning up the snow
And spring in the steps we know
April may be the best time of the year
When hearts are lighter with no fear.
Of slipping and sliding
Downhill
Oh, how the heart seems light and airy
With what April may bring.
FLORIANA HALL was born in 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a Distinguished Graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School, Ohio in June 1948, and attended Akron University. She is an author and poet of 17 inspirational books, nonfiction and poetry. All of her books are available on Amazon.com. She has five children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She is the founder and coordinator of THE POET'S NOOK at Cuyahoga Falls Library. Contact Website Website
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
april celebrity poet
Emily Dickinson
(1830 – 1886)
(1830 – 1886)
nationality: American
Which for myself doth sing --
The spring decoys.
And as the summer nears --
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.
Yet do I not repine
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown --
Learneth beyond the sea
Melody new for me
And will return.
Fast is a safer hand
Held in a truer Land
Are mine --
And though they now depart,
Tell I my doubting heart
They're thine.
In a serener Bright,
In a more golden light
I see
Each little doubt and fear,
Each little discord here
Removed.
Then will I not repine,
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown
Shall in a distant tree
Bright melody for me
Return.
Read the entire poem at:
For the poet’s biography, see:
Quoted for educational purposes only.
All work the copyright of the respective authors.
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