Four diverse poems from our French Pantoum experiment. Enjoy!

Anger

Anger grips my heart
Anger makes me see red
Words will not express it
I scream in frustration

Anger makes me see red
It fuels the pursuit of change
I scream in frustration
Change takes too long

It fuels the pursuit of change
Words will not express it
Change takes too long
Anger grips my heart

-Tonya Hyde

Bon’s Song

Morning sunrise
Kissing her good morning
Sharing the drive
Evening sunset

Kissing her good morning
Holding her hand
Evening sunset
Kissing her goodnight

Holding her hand
Sharing the drive
Kissing her goodnight
Morning sunrise

-Timothy Ray

mama god papa god

skin like ebony —
or is it alabaster?
clothed in saris airy white
shot through with color
they come

laughing on bare - - or sandaled –feet
bejewlled and painted
strong arms of sculptor’s sinew
now outstretched,
now clapping

their mouths sweet with cream
and honey
tangy of salt, fresh harvested of the sea
ripe with juiced olives

meurtos bread wafts around them
warmed with cardomon
spiced with anise
wine on the back of the mouth

beautiful exotic other
beaconing me to their side

-Rachelle Mee-Chapman

bread of the winter solstice

the bread, yellow in it’s egginess
under brilliant midsommer light
or dim solstice candleglow
holds a secret knowing

under brilliant midsommer light
the bread, that piece there, from the challah
holds a secret knowing
waits for a hallowed mouth

under brilliant midsommer light
or dim solstice candle glow
waits for a hallowed mouth
the bread, yellow in it’s egginess

-Rachelle Mee-Chapman