"Hope"
By M. A. Sheldon
As dreams unfold the reader sees,
That all these parts I play are me.
The night is flogged in broken thought,
Through this dungeon I have fought.
Of nightmarish catastrophes,
I have paid exceeding fees.
Knights with golden breast plates; still you be!
For this is not for you to see,
King or peasant may hold the key.
But 'tis twilight facing me.
Moonlight's silvery rays decree,
The raven comes in twos and threes.
Death has passed this maiden free, this maiden free?
Laugh at such a one as me, for no one is truly free.
The work is harshly unending,
Neither beginning nor ending.
Soft is the bed where I slumber deep,
Morning comes and again I seek.
Knowledge agonizingly does creep,
'Tis was only the truth I seek.
Progress is snailishly slow,
I want to know what you do know.
Far away like a mischievous fairy,
Howling wolves or wind their voices carry.
Brazenly I cast my coin so small,
For fairy dreams that do not fall,
That dreams may come of dreams gone frail,
Where a forest of wisdom does dwell,
I wish not of kingdoms or silver threads,
I wish for only hope instead.
I am a pre-nursing student.
* * * * * * * * * *
"A Good Pea"
By Ocie Kilgus
You're a good pea, Charlie Brown
A pea above all peas
A pea for all seasons
A pea of the West
The pea of peas
A pea's pea
A sweet pea
A good pea is hard to find . . .
How luscious you lie outside the pod.*
To Gary . . . The sweetest of all peas.
*I wanted to think of well-known clever lines that were meant to elevate one person above all others. These lines are all famous, yet the poetic borrowing of the last line comes from Emily Dickinson. If she were with us, I hope she wouldn't mind . . .
