By Dennis Patton

IN THE MOMENT OF ‘23

Feel the hot air

Coolness of the breeze Touch of my leggings

And a good-tasting supper — Jessica Gray

Benton

HAIKU

first day of spring each of their bicycles with a frozen flat tire

— Pat Laster

Benton

SPRING

Spring is here, be full of cheer. Flowers are blooming for all to see.

Birds are singing for you and me.

Ice is off the ground. Beauty is all around. Be happy.

The long winter is past. Spring is here.

— Phyllis Steele Sheridan

HERALD

Lonesome stands the buttercup When his yellow does appear. He pushes through the melting snow Announcing Spring is near.

Ready for the action call,

The director’s voice is heard. “A wardrobe change for this scene Needs grass, and leaf, and bird,

And not the grays of wintertime, But brightly painted hues.”

He’s calling for the singing birds, The Cardinals and the Blues.

Then like the marching majorette Whose whistle sets the pace,

The diva waltzes on the stage As Spring now has a face.

— Dennis Patton

Alexander

STATELY SHIPS

Man builds the ships that sail the sea And those that travel through the skies While some as though by destiny

Are ships that we immortalize

But Providence is still the hand

That builds the Ships of State that stand. — Don Crowson

Deceased

HOT MITTS

Pots and pans are hot, my dear, So please wear these so we won’t hear Your screams of pain when in a rush You pick one up and then you blush And fuss and fume and throw a fit Because you forgot to wear your mit. — Sue Watson

Benton

I STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE

What the world needs now is love, heaven knows there’s not enough. Some say it’s too late, hate will never abate, but I still believe in Love.

— Mike Pafundi

Deceased

RETIREMENT

All of his life he got ready to live, got ready to travel, got ready to give. He worked rain or shine, hot or cold, sick or well

and he always got up one more time than he fell.

His rainbow was always just over the way. He was planning to rest; he was planning to play.

He planned to relax soon as he got ahead; but when he got ready, he keeled over -dead!

—Verna Lee Hinegardner

Former Poet Laureate

To submit poems for publication, please send poems of 16 or fewer lines to Dennis Patton, 2512 Springhill Circle, Alexander, AR 72002, or patton_dr@hotmail.com. The Saline County Branch of PRA is scheduled to meet March 25, 1:00 pm, at the Parkview United Methodist Church, 514 North Border Street, Benton.