I journey upright
in an unseen four-horse chariot,
along the eternal path of time—
a charioteer;
with slackened reins
I calmly appear before you.
Motionless beside your absence,
at the navel of your land,
amidst your Pythian Games—
a charioteer;
with broken reins
I hold fast your imperishable feats.
Serene, I journey alongside
in your victory celebrations,
along the meandering ribbon of the Kabeiroi—
a charioteer;
with balanced reins
I glorify serenity and grace.
Sometimes jokes are hurtful.
They're not as funny as we think.
Everyone appreciates a caring comment.
There's so much more to gain
from being considerate and kind.
AP: 2nd place 2026, Honorable Mention 2026
Walked along the beach today
Then decided to go swimming
Won't go to the deep water area
Because deep water isn't suitable
For us
Children of God
Welcome to a beautiful day
Making ourselves sleep late
So we should enjoy it as much
As we can
Because one day, these days
Will slowly drift away
Children of God
Welcome to a wonderful day
Let's not waste this day
Making ourselves go to bed late
Dear wife, I know you aim to please,
but I did not ask for antifreeze;
and so, if you don't mind, I think
I will pass on your proffered drink.
You've got a glimmer in your eye,
but I'm not ready, yet, to die.
I still have the keys to the car,
I'd better hit the gas and go far.
I reach the wooded edge
in the held breath before sunrise,
October coolness at my back.
I walk eastward, lifting my gaze
expecting blue light~
but dawn arrives golden and warm,
a quiet mercy on my chilled skin.
The wind carries earth, water, and pine.
Then a rustle. I stop. I listen.
My ancestors walk behind me.
“Be still,” they whisper.
“You are the result of the love of thousands before you.”
Lines under tension
The wind pulls on my harness
Spray shines in the sun
Listen to the songs of the dark,
just don't dance with the devil.
Heal your broken, your cracks,
avoid being chained.
I've slowed the speed of laughter,
noticed devilish grin,
craving teeth of a python,
friendly eyes of a deceiver.
A tiny tugboat chugs along,
And hums a happy, smoky
song.
It pulls the giant ships to
shore,
Through ocean waves that
crash and roar,
Because its iron heart is
strong.
Along the Appalachian trail
was a leftover petrified bale
on top stood a lonely quail
looking sturdy, in no way frail
also left was a loaf of bread, stale
according to my goofy cousin, Dale
Always good for stories without fail
comedienne after his stint in jail
next to the straw bale was a grail
Dale thought it was carved in shale
he heard a coyote’s drawn-out wail
it came to him on a gusty gale
He nibbled on a piece of kale
which he had found in a wooden pail
soon he felt hearty and hale
is this the end? asked the inquisitive quail
To ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦ under cover of night.
To follow ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ your shadow at the window.
That shadow at the window is you and no one else;
¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦
Do ¦¦¦ open that window behind whose curtains you're moving.
¦¦¦¦ your eyes.
I'd like to shut them with my lips.
But the window opens ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ the breeze
which ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ balances flame and flag surrounds my escape
with its cloak.
The window opens: it's not you.
I knew it all along.
Along the horizon, the Swiss Alps rise with a deep calm,
their slopes holding a pale, steady radiance~
not the brilliance of noon,
but the quiet glow of a soul at rest.
The lake below mirrors everything
with a devotion almost holy,
its surface smooth as a held breath,
a silver-blue plane where sky and water
forget their differences.
Trees stand in contemplative ranks,
dark brushstrokes of patience,
as though they’ve spent centuries
listening to the mountain’s slow wisdom
and have learned the art of stillness.
Nothing moves;
yet the whole scene feels alive~
a pulse beneath the silence,
a soft, inward turning of the world
toward its own serene center.
And as the eye lingers,
something in the heart settles too,
as if Hodler painted not a place
but a moment of inner clarity~
Farther is further
than you are now: yet you ask —
"Are We There Yet, Mum?"
one measures a distant throb
the other, what you yen for.
LOVE
at least in my mind
was an irrational fantasy
a marketing scheme to sell novels
a romantic dreamer's dream.
Then you came along and taught me
to believe
In the splendor of love
when you allow the heart to yield.
Now I preach about the concept
I once thought to be a myth.
I daily in thank God
for such a wonderful gift.
LOVE
at least in my mind
was an irrational fantasy
a fable designed for children
a foolish dreamer's dream.
Then you came along and forced me
to see
love's unique healing power
and how it can create sweet
harmony.
Now I preach about the concept
I thought to be unreal
and I'm forever indebted to you
for the special way you make me feel.
LOVE
at least in my mind
was an irrational fantasy
a word with no meaning
a lonely dreamer's dream.
Then you came along and made me
understand
if I let go of doubt and fear
love can make me a better man.
Now I preach about the concept
I thought to be unreal
and I'm forever indebted to you
the lady who made me feel
LOVE.
L
Don't let me forget my purse
I'm sorry children I don't mean to be terse
Come down at once from that twisted tree
Mommy has a meeting to make by three
And oh, if your father's eyes could see
He'd tell you at once we must leave
Come, let us hurry along
There will be time enough to play
Once we are gone
"At the beach - time you enjoyed wasting, is not wasted." -T. S. Eliot
It's a beautiful day at the seashore
To explore the beach on this warm day
As I walk along, hearing the ocean roar
Children are out and about at the beach to play
Seagulls are flying nearby and squawking about
Parents are out guarding, keeping them away
A whale is spotted spraying from his spout
A site seeing cruise ship stops to watch the show
While some children excitedly scream and shout
I walk along the path, where the sweet roses grow
Until I reach the hidden ocean cave
With tide pools of crabs and shells to bestow
A Seal is beached while wetted from a wave
This relaxing beach adventure is what I crave
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