Black, by Debi Swim

Black
by Debi Swim

I’m writing an ode to black
misunderstood, abused, lack
of frivolity, sober, tacked
onto the back of despair. Unfair.
Black has depth and richness
mystery and glamor within us
making red redder, enhancing,
entrancing, like the ebony sheen
of the raven, the placid shade
between I lay me down and sleep
counting dark sheep with a tender
heart all part of twilight and surrender.
It is a contender for favorite color–
hats, cats, licorice, espresso, Van Gogh’s
background that pop the poppies
no melancholy in their enthusiasm.
All praise to the black dark chocolate
sweet, confident, sassy, bold. A chasm
of ebony, sable, inky, pitch, coal.
When truth is told, before
creation all was black, now
everything is stitched at the seams
with black… is beautiful.

Note: Written in response to Red Wolf Poems, Prompt 219.

Debi Swim writes primarily to prompts. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and happy WV poet.

My Creed And My Tears, by Edilson Afonso Ferreira

My Creed And My Tears
by Edilson Afonso Ferreira

Today I opened my mourning’s season.
I cried for the lack of solidarity and brotherhood,
for the existence, till today, of countries’ borders,
increasing inequalities and suffering among people;
for the estrangement among whites and blacks,
yellows and browns, Christians and Muslims;
for the rich that reach water from golden faucets
and the poor by carrying it in the buckets;
for the wine and salmon’s tables of the mansions
and the yesterday’s bread passing from hand to hand;
for the security of the politicians for the coming years
and the fear of common people for tomorrow;
for the dreams of the righteous that have not come true
and the audacity of the insolent who are not intimidated;
for my lack of faith that everything is on our Lord’s hands
and in His extreme love for us.
My tears have washed my body and eased my soul.
When I die, no need to cry more.
I have already cried for what matters, at least for me.

Mr. Ferreira, 73, is a Brazilian poet who writes in English rather than Portuguese, having been published in venues like Right Hand Pointing, The Lake, The Stare’s Nest, The Provo Canyon, Red Wolf Journal, Whispers, Every Day Poems, Indiana Voice Journal, The Mocking Heart and some others. He lives in a small town (Formiga (MG) with wife, three sons and a granddaughter and is trying to publish his first Poetry Book, with about 70 poems.

Nimble, by Maja S. Todorovic

Nimble
by Maja S. Todorovic

Here you are.
In between my thoughts,
juggling like an acrobat,
on a thin wire.

In between my thoughts,
hiding like a bat in the dark
corners of my mind.

In between my thoughts,
white dove
knocking on my window
carrying a message of love.

In between my thoughts,
I try not to think of you,
but you’ve become nimble.

Maja S. Todorovic is an educator and writer from Belgrade, currently living in the sunny Hague. After finishing her PhD in Organizational Sciences and years of academic work, she switched her scientific pen for more creative expressions. “Business in Rhyme” is her creative corner where she blogs about beautiful uses of poetry and poetic techniques for improving writing, personal growth and creativity.

Earth’s Settlers, by Edilson Afonso Ferreira

Earth’s Settlers
by Edilson Afonso Ferreira

Half divine and half human,
sons of God and cousins to the angels, those
of the pure lineage as well of the fallen ones.
Always wavering from earth to the heavens,
we must give way to the ground sustaining
and sheltering strange while lovely dreams,
some nocturnal ones, some by the sunlight.
Although pure blue of heavenly landscapes,
we prefer the brown ochre of our native earth,
smelling to dear sinful brothers and sisters,
faithful companions of suffered a race.
Race that, since the dawn of our era has colonized,
on God’s command and by hard a toil, all the lands
of so rough otherwise sometimes exquisite a world.

Mr. Ferreira is a Brazilian poet who writes in English rather than Portuguese. Recent works have appeared in Red Wolf Journal, Right Hand Pointing, Creative Talents Unleashed (Featured Writer)), Indiana Voice Journal, The Lake, Whispers, Dead Snakes, Algebra of Owls, The Bees are Dead, The Basil O’Flaherty (Featured Poet), among many others. Ferreira lives in a small town (Formiga-MG), with wife, three sons and a granddaughter and is trying to release his first poetry book in 2017, with about 70 poems. He began to write at age 66 (seven years ago), after retirement as a Bank Manager.

The Children At The Wedding #15, by Darren C. Demaree

The Children At The Wedding #15
by Darren C. Demaree

I don’t know
if there are roots

in this vanishing
world,

but I’m looking
at the bloom

of it
right now.

Darren C. Demaree’s poems have appeared, or are scheduled to appear in numerous magazines/journals, including the South Dakota Review, Meridian, New Letters, Diagram, and the Colorado Review. He is the author of six poetry collections, most recently Many Full Hands Applauding Inelegantly (2016, 8th House Publishing). He is the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net Anthology and Ovenbird Poetry. He is currently living in Columbus, Ohio.