leaves in wind, image by Alicja, on Pixabay An Hour Ago An hour ago I’d dozed upon the thought I could leave all those unwanted memories behind as if they were stuffed away in the toe room of a worn shoe so they could no longer ever touch me and I could breathe in the scent of a dahlia that, when once a bud, sighed itself open into a flower. Only heartfelt prayers sent to heaven, and leaves flying rapturously in the wind when autumn begins closing in. ___________________ A Sn

clouds, praise the Lord!, image by C.B. Harris When the trumpet sounds I know my Redeemer Lives on high The One who created Earth, heavens and sky I know my Creator Doesn't sleep or slumber The One who created Rainbows and thunder I know my Savior Never lies nor sins Just by his voice Life once again begins I know my Intercessor Pleads for my mistakes The One who made Rivers, dams and lakes I know that one day I will see Him in the clouds He will come with his angels When the

sunflower, image by pasja1000, on Pixabay Mother’s Garden No secret garden, but exhibited, instead, each day on Facebook—different sprouts and blooms each season: cucumbers, snow peas, eggplants, zucchini, onions, peaches, Cherokee purple and indigo rose tomatoes, bitter melon; tulips, lilies, irises, lilac, pear tree blossom, crimson- eyed rose of Sharon—precariously clambering trellis vines—potential harvest, unruined by chipmunks and invisible insects speckling leaves, wav

hearts, image by Pezibear, on Pixabay A cento is a poem made from lines written by other poets. To me, it is a way of remembering the poems and honoring the poets. With respect and gratitude, here is a cento composed from lines by each writer who contributed to this issue. Heart I walk across the afternoon, people... carry in their faces their realities, the child-heart in me cries, all those unwanted memories. Frail soul, I know my Savior, God hears my sighs, but when her h