I’ll be honest with you: I like rhyme. It’s fun, challenging, and can make a poem easier to remember. After all, some very famous and beloved poems have been written in rhyme—think “Annabel Lee” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” That being said, it can be a tough sell to get rhyming poems published in today’s market. Why? Some consider rhyme to be too cutesy or even trite; some dismiss it as “greeting card verse.” Now, I like greeting cards, and many of them have lo

(apple seeds, image by the author, Kim R. Deslaurier) Sprouting apple seeds a garden in the half star secret life within ________________ An Epiphany An epiphany I hear you through my haiku As I write my words Discerning moment To know I am listening To the heart of God It’s a comfort to Know God’s voice is within me His spirit guides me Thank you for today Peaceful glorious morning I abide in you Rejoice in the Lord I lift up my voice and sing Hallelujah, God! ______________

(girls laughing, image by Cheryl Holt, on Pixabay) All of Life’s Gifts An island to myself, I thought back to when I was at my prettiest, a coming-of-age I loved so well when the soft rain of girl talk was still in the air and the bubble of our laughter would turn the heads of other women who’d often pause to spray their permed hair. Lost I am in the memory of those golden years; happiness leavening my heart, the dash of joy sprinkled from God’s fingertips, my faith in a futu

(image by Greg Waskovich, on Pixabay) Poem foreshadows perfect like a blue-green twilight sky polished like a mountain brook’s crystal water happy like the tongue tasting a strawberry cleansed with expectancy like the smell of a pine forest after rain a word mirrors life’s mystery like a yellow wildflower mirrors the sun _________________ Farmhouse Hours Morning drip of leaky kitchen faucet heard through quiet rooms Noonday hush of forgotten things in attic’s bars and shadows

A stroll... ...through... ...his... ...garden. Junior McLean, formerly of Anderson, Indiana, currently resides in Bronx, New York City. Since 1996, he has been self taught in the use of graphic design and artwork, from digital illustrations to digital art itself. He is currently a freelancer, with his own small team of artist associates; they network their services in various states and countries. Once in a while, he also contributes his latest in photography, which he’s star

(fountain, image by Christian Peters, on Pixabay) May the Lord be with me May the Lord heal me, mend my soul with love, Let me fly to the place that l should be seeing Make my body whole, and full of joy and happiness, That l may make each day a wonder and enjoyable. Let me see the world as it should be, away from the clouds, Let the blue sky shine in serenity as the sun glows again. Be in my heart and body, for you are my true salvation, As l breathe and experience the wonde

(heavy load in Dhaka, Bangladesh, photo by Adli Wahid, on Unsplash) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Heavy Laden The invitation has been extended with a promise of a lightened burden. Words spoken before the Lord ascended to ears of all who remain uncertain how to unload the oppressive millstone so tightly tied around every neck. When faced with trials we’d rather bemoan the injustice of life’s latest train wreck a

(well, image by ddzphoto, on Pixabay) Pilgrimage She plods beyond the four pullets in the frig. Her path to knowing must be here in the brilliant cold where an old carrot shivers contemplating the huddled grapes. _________________ The New Moon Out the window, where your head is, you look for the new moon you left in one of God’s dog-eared books, maybe Exodus or Leviticus. My head joins your head in the darkness. The night has the clarity of stacked deserts. Stars hide behind

(image by Bruno, Germany, on Pixabay) The Drafting of a Woman Looking through the questions of an online personality profile this morning, I saw this question: “How would you describe yourself?” And because this is how God has created me, as an inquisitive writer, that question sparked a journey for me through His Word, and it has resulted, as is often the case, in a bit of writing on my part. If you like, you can join me in this pondering of the Word by reading my juxtaposit

(roses, image by karolyn83, on Pixabay) Rosary I sit holding a bouquet of rosaries from my Mother’s belongings. One for each day in a week. I twist them around my hand to see the pattern of my mother’s prayers. I know the story of most of them. First communion, confirmation, marriage, and one for the birth of each child including the one in heaven. The beads melt into tears as I recall how many times I was the rosary intended. Unused now, they adorn my bedpost. I pick

(Ketchikan, Alaska, photo by Gene Williams) (church, photo by Gene Williams) (sunset riches, photo by Gene Williams) (aspens, photo by Cindy Williams) (autumn, photo by Cindy Williams) (fall colors, photo by Cindy Williams) Gene and Cindy Williams love to capture beautiful sights through the lens of a camera. Gene studied photography in high school and college, and continues to hone his craft. He has won several awards for his photos, most recently First Place in a contest sp