Candles
John Cardarella
If the world could change its scarrtered reflection
alter and arise anew
The world would pain in inperfections
of the new flaws and smeared hues
bringing ruin to the masterpiece
infringing dreams and hopes
and I’d simply dangle from these
unraveling new ropes
Eventually falling awake
from this infernal night
opening my virgin eyes to break
through the shadows and the light
Blow out the candles
and the shadows will fade
Blow out reality’s handle
and the nightmares will stay...
No friendship could burn so brightly
in the darkness like we’ve been
However, wax melts quickly
and the wicks then reach their ends
But the poetic ending of this fire
was different in its route
You see... this time you’re the liar
this time...you blew the candle out...
and I stand in misplaced shame
in a past of scars and scratches
choking on smoke from doused flames
holding strong to en empty box of matches...
September Turned Winter
Mark E. Price
That call from my wife,
always a pleasure for me.
She would tell me she loved me,
and tease me and laugh.
This time it was different,
first, I didn’t know why.
The telephone went silent,
and so did my life.
That call from my wife
I remember so well.
It was the tears and the fear,
behind her small voice.
I prayed God would save her,
I even offered Him my life.
Buildings fell from the sky,
and a part of me died.
That call from my wife.
We talked for a short while,
about weddings and birthdays,
and our little child.
We laughed at times,
but mostly, we cried.
How could a gift so treasured
arrive on the worst day of my life?
That call from my wife,
on a bright beautiful morning
changed my life forever,
without any warning.
It’s amazing how quickly
man can change the weather.
In just a few minutes,
he turned September to Winter.
