WINTER MOONLIGHT

The snow, so peaceful and serene, caressed by the soft moonlight, gave magical feelings to the night. The soft blue glow, the lovers' words that then did flow, their lips closer and closer until, locked in the throes of a passionate embrace, he decided to express his feelings, to keep her safe. He whispered softly, his words like music to her ears, "I Love You," and her response the same, heard like the gentle breeze, "And I, love you, forever." That was the night they promised to be together through everything, each to care for the other when old and gray. A lovers' pact the most likely to last. - Krista J. Mikula -

The Phone Call by Kit McCallum The call that comes in darkest sleep, Awakens with a fright; For 2 am, the silence breaks The peaceful calm of night. When only moments earlier, I dreamt of visions fair; Of light and love and happiness; ... Till ringing filled the air. It beckoned me from deepest sleep, And drew me from my daze; I shook my head to clear my mind, Find focus through this haze. "How long has this been ringing?" As I reach to find the light; I steal a glance toward the clock, And now my heart takes flight! 'Tis many hours before the dawn, Yet all should be in bed; My loved ones faces fill the night; ... My heart is filled with dread. I struggle for composure as I reach to grab the phone; My stomach churns, my heart contracts; "Are all my kids at home?" I stumble as I grasp the handle, Stifle silent screams; "Oh God ... please let this phone call Be a part of just a dream!" My heart is racing, mind's a whirl, Receiver's made of lead; "Oh, how can this be happening!" "Who's on the other end?!" Just seconds pass and yet I find It's been eternity; I raise the phone to panicked ear; "Oh please ... don't be for me!" ________________________________

Power Of Pain by Star711 I sat alone another day. The world was moving all around me, but it seemed as if my life was in a standstill. The doctors say its anxiety. Everyone thinks anxiety means nervousness or fear, but it is deeper than that. Anxiety holds you prisoner. You can't leave your house. Ding Dong Ding Dong The doorbell rings but I can't answer. There is too much fear inside. You can't answer the phone. Ring Ring Ring "Telephone for you!" my family yells. I tell them to say that I will call back, but I won't. You can't eat. Chomp Bite Chew No, not me. The anxiety even controls that. All the pain rushes back up with every little thing I eat. You can't go out. Step Step Step Everyone walking around me, but I can't move, the apprehension paralyzes me. Everyone says, "Be brave. You can do it. You'll make it out of this." But sometimes I wonder if I will. I try to combat it all, but if I attempt to do anything, it all starts over again. Thump Thump Thump My heart beats faster and faster. I can feel it in my chest. Beads of sweat Racing Falling Running down my forehead. All the thoughts swarm in my brain. The fear picks up. It is unbearable. I'm so frightened, but I don't know what of. The paranoia sweeps over my body like a giant wave. Every day I have to fight what seems to be a losing battle. But then . . . I look outside. I see the colors. I see the life. I see spirit. I know I can do this. Hope Pray Win

Small Pain In My Chest by Michael Mack The soldier boy was sitting calmly underneath that tree. As I approached it, I could see him beckoning to me. The battle had been long and hard and lasted through the night And scores of figures on the ground lay still by morning's light. "I wonder if you'd help me, sir", he smiled as best he could. "A sip of water on this morn would surely do me good. We fought all day and fought all night with scarcely any rest - A sip of water for I have a small pain in my chest." As I looked at him, I could see the large stain on his shirt All reddish-brown from his warm blood mixed in with Asian dirt. "Not much", said he. "I count myself more lucky than the rest. They're all gone while I just have a small pain in my chest." "Must be fatigue", he weakly smiled. "I must be getting old. I see the sun is shining bright and yet I'm feeling cold. We climbed the hill, two hundred strong, but as we cleared the crest, The night exploded and I felt this small pain in my chest." "I looked around to get some aid - the only things I found Were big, deep craters in the earth - bodies on the ground. I kept on firing at them, sir. I tried to do my best, But finally sat down with this small pain in my chest." "I'm grateful, sir", he whispered, as I handed my canteen And smiled a smile that was, I think, the brightest that I've seen. "Seems silly that a man my size so full of vim and zest, Could find himself defeated by a small pain in his chest." "What would my wife be thinking of her man so strong and grown, If she could see me sitting here, too weak to stand alone? Could my mother have imagined, as she held me to her breast, That I'd be sitting HERE one day with this pain in my chest?" "Can it be getting dark so soon?" He winced up at the sun. "It's growing dim and I thought that the day had just begun. I think, before I travel on, I'll get a little rest .......... And, quietly, the boy died from that small pain in his chest. I don't recall what happened then. I think I must have cried; I put my arms around him and I pulled him to my side And, as I held him to me, I could feel our wounds were pressed The large one in my heart against the small one in his chest.

Do Not Love Me Yet Do not love me yet, for I Am still a slender moon, A scimitar about the heart Too sharp to touch too soon. Before I'm touched I need to grow More full in golden light; I need to smile upon my earth And rule some patch of night. I need to know what roads and fields Lie in my domain And dull my brand new ecstasies With sophomoric pain. I need the love of some blank boy As cold and dark as me, That we might grope in ignorance And fear of what might be. And then when I'm a silver bowl And know what I can hold, Then, then, perhaps, we could try love If you are not too old.

Love Comes Through the Eyes That See Love comes through the eyes that see And through the ears that hear, For people are quite beautiful, And words make feelings clear. Love comes through the hands that touch With unabashed affection, For only skin-to-skin can love Maintain its true direction. Love comes through the tastes and smells Of fresh and well-cooked food, For in the gift of nourishment Is much else that is good. But though love comes through senses five, Love comes from the heart, For there resides the greater love Of which ours is a part.

I Must Accept But Can't What Cannot Be I must accept but can't what cannot be. I see you and my heart dissolves in pain. You are not dead, but you are dead to me. What happened to our love's a mystery. I rummage through our empty past in vain. I must accept but can't what cannot be: That someone else now shares your off-hand "we," Now feels your tender tongue all feeling drain . . . You are not dead, but you are dead to me. I cannot lay aside my agony: Again, again I play the same refrain. I must accept but can't what cannot be. And yet I know this tortured ecstasy Is just my way of holding you again. You are not dead, but you are dead to me, And still I cannot bear to set you free, That of our love some remnant might remain. I must accept but can't what cannot be. You are not dead, but you are dead to me.

Though I Broke My Promise and Your Trust Though I broke my promise and your trust, My love for you remains as strong as ever. I know it must mean little to swear never Again to break my word, and yet I must. What else can I do? Your fury's just, But all my world will darken if you sever My heart from yours. Please wait, and I'll endeavor To blow new life into this mound of dust. All that you require of me I'll do And more, if what you ask leaves room for more. Thus time will heal this wound and leave no scar. Since I now know the pain of losing you, I'll be yours more than I could before, And you will see what my true feelings are.

Forgive Me for What Cannot Be Forgiven Forgive me for what cannot be forgiven. Open up the door I once slammed closed. Restore the love that I once squandered, driven Grimly by some grinch I've since deposed. I cannot plead for what I cannot fathom, Valuing least the value I most crave. Each heart must sometimes haunt the steep-walled chasm, Made mad by wrath and selfish songs that rave Empty on the edges of the grave.

I Know I Must Have Hurt You, Caused You Pain I know I must have hurt you, caused you pain. More, I know that I have lost your trust. I wish I had that moment back again To pulverize my carelessness and lust. Sometimes we have to lose what we most cherish To understand how much we are in need. We play with life until we nearly perish To dare the darkness, though within we bleed. I need you as the sun must have a rose To turn its empty radiance to glory, Or as a nation needs someone who knows The secrets of its long-forgotten story. I know my need of you more than before; Thus for my trespass you may trust me more.

YOU TOUGHT ME HOW TO LAUGH AGAIN You taught me how to laugh again And gave me back my smile, Restored my faith in people when Everyone seemed vile. You were as if the sun came up Upon my bitter night And bade the blackness rustle up Some joyful morning light. And inexplicably my heart Rose up and twirled me round, So sudden in its expert art I scarcely touched the ground. With you I am still filled with light And all my feelings dance. You are my song, my wings, my flight, My truth and my romance.

WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE Will you be my Valentine? I know that I am yours. You are like a tossing sea And I am like your shores. You are like an endless wave And I your waiting sand. And I will wait forever as You come and smooth my hand. I will wait forever, yet You are a part of me. I hold you in my arms, while you Come to me endlessly. Will you be my Valentine? I know that I am yours. I love you with a love that yearns To be your golden shores.

MY LOVE FOR YOU IS SOMETHING I'M AFRAID OF My love for you is something I'm afraid of. You're all grown up, and I am still a kid. You tell me that you love me. I believe it. But something in me says this isn't good. You touch me and I melt into your yearning. You kiss me and I never want to stop. I dream of you whenever I'm not with you. And yet I cannot trust you - not just yet. Yes, love and trust must always go together, And it's a sign of trouble when they don't. You are a man, and I not yet a woman, Too young to know exactly what I want. You say you'll wait for me, which makes me happy, As I, too, wait for me to find my way. Years are sunlit space for me to grow in Until we can love boldly, eye-to-eye.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU I never thought I'd fall in love with you. I thought someday, of course, I'd fall in love. But what it felt like, I just never knew; I'd no idea what I was thinking of. And then, somewhere between my need and pleasure, Walking neither overjoyed nor sad, I looked into my heart and saw a treasure Worth more than anything I'd ever had. Ah! This is love! I thought. And then I wanted To give my life to see your happiness. Suddenly, from nowhere, I was haunted, Needy, joyful, tearful, glad, obsessed. My love for you has brought me out of me. The beauty in your heart has set me free.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER LOVED This is the first time I have ever loved; Yours, the first face I can not forget. I think you are afraid, perhaps, and moved To wonder whether you should do this yet. I also am afraid, and yet I know That wonder is a thing that needs a yes; Should you step back and let this moment go, Both you and I will have to live with less. Please trust my love, as I must trust in yours. It's strong as steel, as delicate as lace, Immovable as battered granite shores: I feel its power and unremitting grace. So come, my love, and try this love with me; Let your love speak, and then you will agree.

FRIENDSHIP POEM You are friendly, kind and caring Sensitive, loyal and understanding Humorous, fun, secure and true Always there... yes that's you. Special, accepting, exciting and wise Truthful and helpful, with honest blue eyes Confiding, forgiving, cheerful and bright Yes that's you... not one bit of spite. You're one of a kind, different from others Generous, charming, but not one that smothers Optimistic, thoughtful, happy and game But not just another... in the long chain. Appreciative, warm and precious like gold Our friendship won't tarnish or ever grow old You'll always be there, I know that is true I'll always be here... always for you. - Written and owned by Angela Lee Hillsley

Friends A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift. A friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift. A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy, and grace. And makes the whole world we live in a better and happier place. - Jean Kyler McManus -

An Entrapment My love, I have tried with all my being to grasp a form comparable to thine own, but nothing seems worthy; I know now why Shakespeare could not compare his love to a summer’s day. It would be a crime to denounce the beauty of such a creature as thee, to simply cast away the precision God had placed in forging you. Each facet of your being whether it physical or spiritual is an ensnarement from which there is no release. But I do not wish release. I wish to stay entrapped forever. With you for all eternity. Our hearts, always as one. - Anthony Kolos -

A Special World A special world for you and me A special bond one cannot see It wraps us up in its cocoon And holds us fiercely in its womb. Its fingers spread like fine spun gold Gently nestling us to the fold Like silken thread it holds us fast Bonds like this are meant to last. And though at times a thread may break A new one forms in its wake To bind us closer and keep us strong In a special world, where we belong. - Sheelagh Lennon -

Can We Still Be Friends? by Kathleen Sheppard I was cold and hurting lost out in the night wandering and searching for heaven's light I saw the night sky clearing when you spread your rainbow wings But little did I know what joy you would bring From that moment on a friendship did start you kissed away my tears and sheltered my heart I bless the day God sent him from above But then I grew fearful for I had fallen in love I told you this feeling and what did you say? You said you liked our friendship and that's how it would stay I cried for a friendship I thought I lost But then felt your warm, gentle hand You then whispered in my ear that by my side you'll forever stand