BOUNCE
by jenese morris

A good woman is free to laugh at her naked heart.
Looking blind and childlike –
After trust pierce a hole in her young girl self
...almost.
She picks up some will from women in decay
Their steel always translucent, says
“let joy blaze ferociously and desire never slows…
man is like a boy without rhythm,
a prisoner awake at night…
You, a sail on the ocean,
warm sky over fire in belly.
Daughter of wild flowers
celebrate our sex.
You are feline after all.”

Layers
by Mags Alden

I gorge myself on anything that even looks like it could be food, like a suitcase overflowing with layers. Trying hard to swallow my pain, a sweet and sour tide dribbles down the walls of my throat begging for freedom.

An Angel Came to My Door
by Mags Alden

A angel came to my door two days ago
in the form of a nine year old boy who I had never meet before.
He said I have some words of comfort from the father above,
his love for you is more then have for yourself.
Grace just enough for each new day,
he placed that smile upon your face
and hopes it will never fade away.
Forever his child of love.

Darkness Falls
by Amber Whitman
 
Darkness falls is where the beast roams.
Abandoned at birth and left to die.
Legend has it, he has no real home.
He even ate his own left eye.
 
Horns on his head, hooves for feet.
The bloodthirsty need for human flesh.
Razor sharp teeth slice through the meat.
Claws dripping blood from the heartless chest.
 
Blood is the source that the dead are giving.
For the beast of Darkness to keep living.

Passion Fire
by Mags Alden

Soaking up the sunshine
as the wind kisses you on the lips,
passion fire floods your soul.
Removing traces of black death forever.

 what about love?
by sheryl joy olano
 
What about love...
What about that longing
that stirs your blood into ripples
as if an angel's fingers have just caressed it
 
What about love...
that tide rushing through your veins
enclosing you defenseless with surprise
and your body, like jelly, slave to its touch
 
What about love...
that ignites passion in your eyes
down to your hands, down to the
dainty lightness and spring in your steps
 
What about love...
that colors meaning in your eyes
that gentles your face with a
secret laughter in your smile
and moves your heart to a song
 
What about pain...
that steals an ounce of your breath
as if every wisp of labored sigh
is rolled up with volumes of heart versus mind
 
What about love...
If you rush for just a taste -
just for the mere of it;
 
Then...
What about love?
when it is not meat for your hunger
and wine for your thirst

What about love?
When it is only a word
stripped of its illusions and ornaments of
overly stated heaven and made-up promises
 
What about love...
if confined only in you
I swear, I'll trade promises of forever
for the 'now'

Tears of Strangers
by Amber Whitman

Violence and guns plague this city.
Everyday lives are lost.
Young and old there is no discrimination.
Families torn apart by senseless tragedy.
Shrines with candles burn through the night.
Strangers gather for a beautiful young girl, whose life was cut short.
Tears of strangers stain the city sidewalks.
Voices unite to change these times.
One voice, a leader emerges.
A man of faith, a man of God.
Death has darkened this city long enough.
It is time to step into the light “My son.”