Seductive Woman, Seductive Cat

—Photo by Katy Brown, Davis

WHAT IF
—Claire J. Baker, Pinole

What if the sky's
prehistoric dome
crumbles,
the sun exploding
rivers of lava over
the four directions...

What if a few survivors
find on a pristine island
the sky reborn, the sun
healed, the air like silk,
flora and fauna abundant—

love and kindness,
the only languages spoken.

__________________

JUNGLE CATS
—Claire J. Baker

A sultry woman
curls around her cat
her passion purring
to purring cat.

Clenching his throb
to her breast
she digs fingers
deep into fur
enters a jungle
tiger eyes burning.

Curled on purple couch
seductive woman
seductive cat.

__________________

AN OLD ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY
—Claire J. Baker

Now, years later, I wonder
what happened to the tall
Polynesian beauty who wore
hibiscus in long black hair,
a halter &; a flowered lava-lava?
Tropical Mona Lisa by the sea
leaning against a palm tree
as if against an altar.

On the next page, handsome
Lawrence of Arabia resembles her,
except a lava flow had begun
to harden in his eyes.
A caftan clings to shoulders
firm as pounded sand.

He looks thirsty, wary,
half sunstruck.

Moonrise Over Buttes

—Photo by Katy Brown

UNDER A FULL MOON
—Marie J. Ross, Stockton


Under a full moon,


we looked at stars


Held hands


In ambiance of mood


As we kissed 



Ocean was humming 


Romantic song 


Singing to the sparkle 


We watched 


Our eyes roaming the onyx



This was momentous 


A challenge to our emotions,
To evade the question


You and I forever


Or ocean's song forever blinking?



___________________

FILLING THE UNIVERSE

—Marie J. Ross

There were enough reasons in the world


to run


escape the blasts


sirens


bodies in the street,


Freedom 


Freedom the reason



There were enough reasons in the world


To dry a child’s eyes


of pain’s frequency,


Hold weary hands,


administer miracle elixir’s


Humanness


And healing the reason, 



There were enough reasons in the world


To plant on fertile soils long stems of grain


Dig ditches  


for water’s life expanding longevity,


Find places of calm for spiritual retreat


Survival


Survival the reason.



There are enough reasons in the world:


Enough scientific minds,


Enough courage and love of country,


Enough soul and spirit to fill the universe.


__________________

CRIME SCENE

—Nancy Haskett, Modesto

Early this morning
there was a murder in our house
downstairs—

witnessed by no one—
but the evidence was scattered throughout several rooms
filled, now, with feathers
like tiny gray petals
strewn across tile and carpet,
so soft and weightless
that my slippered footsteps
or small gasps of horror
send them airborne
once more,
floating for a few seconds
across the silent kitchen

no sound but the refrigerator,
humming and purring
contentedly,

like

the

cat.

Artie

—Photo by Michelle Kunert, Sacramento

NEGOTIABLE INSECURITIES
—Caschwa, Sacramento

The fear trade has
never been bigger
even after explorers proved
you don't just sail over
the edge

they have taken fear
and packaged it in
pills, insurance policies,
personal protection devices,
whatever

some luscious-looking fruits
are poison that will kill you
temptation is the tool of the devil
so one must not eat, breathe, or
form opinions

death can sneak up on you
like a poetic epiphany
welcome and totally at home
in your sanctuary
of fear

the penalties are severe
for lying under oath
and they have ways
to catch you lying
before you speak

when you take off your shoes
at night to go to bed
a spirit resides there
retracing your itinerary
looking for missteps

if it doesn't find any
it will manufacture some
because above all
there must be a product
to market

__________________

RIGHT THERE
—Caschwa

When someone earnestly
tells you that it is not hard
to find a 4-letter word for
difficult

they have slipped the answer
behind a negative
to elude, to tease
on purpose

you didn't expect it to be
nicely giftwrapped
with a name tag
did you?

tired of waiting and waiting
in line at the grocery store
customers ahead with issues,
register out of tape

eggs bagged first
cans on top
just get on with it
can't wait any longer

delays, postponements
eyes fixed on positive outcomes
can't wait any longer
we have ignition

__________________

FAUX SLEEP
—Caschwa

spent the night
tossing and turning
ideas in my head
like a blender

I felt needed like
a galleon needs rowers
people to whip
land to reach

issues abounded
each with phony salesmen
pushing snakeoil elixirs
the better mousetrap

on television
actors read scripted opinions
about other people's opinions
all alleged to be fact

makeup! makeup!
your bias is showing
old unfaithful farts
preaching family values

shown again and again
because the viewing
audience sees the ads
driven by ratings

witnesses sit
at the witness stand
forced to recite an oath
don't trust any of 'em

not time to get up yet
and start a new day
of same ol', same ol'
freeway traffic

chariot races
out to kill
winner take all
no rules of the road

home sweet home
bed, pillows, quiet
peaceful slumber
blender on high

___________________

Today's LittleNip:

TABULA RASA
—Caschwa

A blank slate has been
a very good thing ever since
the time of Aristotle
so I made it so

now what is all that fuss
about a complex theorem
that was cluttering
up the board?

__________________

—Medusa

—Photo by Katy Brown