They built a life from second chances~
his divorce long past,
her first marriage finally found in him,
two late-in-life soulmates
who learned tenderness the hard way.
Together they raised children
who were never hers by blood
but wholly hers in devotion~
managing medications, meltdowns,
the fragile labor of special-needs care
that society applauds
but never supports.
Now the phone stays silent.
No calls. No cards.
Distance has become an alibi
for abandonment.
Their loneliness grows heavy,
a quiet emergency
no agency tracks,
no policy names,
no system prepares for.
And the question echoes
through their dimly lit home~
Who will care for the caretakers
when the world they held together
lets go of them?
Loose noose
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Cancer had me down
Thinking no reason to live
Still have more living to give
This is the time to win
I will fight this cancer fight
I will not think grave and say good night
When I thought all was loss
It was the Heaven’s miraculous
Recovery made obvious
The skies smiled and embraced you have a second chance
Doctors stated the results came back negative, and the cancer was eliminated
Suddenly knew where hope came from
I just needed Faith in strength in never give up nor give in
That was the other way
Heaven’s deliverance made everything be ok
As I looked into the mirror, I saw and hear applause
The mind focused on recovery
Inner strength the discovery
Nothing mysterious being all in the open
Maybe came out strong in definitely
It was Heaven’s granted into continue to stride
Sooner or later relished into purpose
Everything came together like a puzzle piece
Eyes above from Heaven
Everyone doesn’t get the chance in opportunity as it must be granted
Eyes straight to the Heaven’s
Can’t thank enough
Second chance into new life
Honor to receive.
Withering, that burning passion.
Desires, pride, confidence,
everything sweet.
Reminiscing that weakness,
on that day you were disgraced.
I am nothing like you.
The glory days of the past,
that bright future.
You don’t know how I’ve suffered.
You have no Idea what it’s like.
No, I don’t.
No you don’t.
I am weak, is that true?
Is it all over?
I really don’t have anything…have anything left.
Convinced we have lost,
The Devil isn’t convinced he’s won.
There is something left.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING: Title - This Autumn Crypt
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Date: 01-Nov-2025
---------------------------------------------
The season of the grows come to an end;
Lifeless leaves make their beds of rest,
In their suits of yellows and browns,
Decaying fields of bare bones heave a sigh.
They will persevere the long night,
Through the harsh wrath of the wintry death,
Before giving way to a new life --
And like a phoenix they shall rise.
This soul has endured the wrath of time,
Offered prayers at resentment's shrine.
Lead by one's thoughts down the altar,
And witnessed its union with guilt without falter.
When the sun sat on the burning pyre of regrets,
The ashes of assumption blanketed the night's onset.
The faceless guests applauded at its suffering,
While this soul raised a toast, bleeding.
The first dance came to be on the trampled remains,
Of its younger selves bound by memories' chains.
The white of its gown glowed red,
With each passing thorn left unfelt.
But when the vows were exchanged in silence,
With all of the world's tenderness and patience,
This soul promised to look after every version of the self,
The good, the bad, the ugly, and even the one that stayed twelve.
It learned to love the world around it once more,
For it had let go of the hurt nestled in its core.
"The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive",
Thus it began with oneself — breaking this cycle of grief.
if I
only
knew that
all it
took was
one more
glance, then…
I might
have stopped
to see
if that
quick spark
might flare
again
but the
moment’s
gone, it
went too
soon, and
I do
regret
still I
search the
same old
streets for
eyes I’ll
never
forget
The sun beat down for two hard seasons long,
Their land was parched, where grass grew strong
Near death went by, and whispered a sigh,
Beneath a vast and empty sky
Watching the dust, with a heavy heart,
And wondered why, as life fell apart
Confused, we questioned, every day,
Why did Mother turn and look away
Then sudden tears from skies above,
A gentle deluge, filled with nourishing love
The heavens wept, a soaking grace,
Washing the world, at their own pace
The thirsty ground drank deep and slow,
Remade; this sleeping garden grows
And lilacs shy, with branches bare,
Woke to the moisture, in the air
They pushed new buds, a sweet delight,
Though autumn winds began with might
A second bloom, a purple gleam,
Gifts of a rare white; unexpected dream
If I ever had to live with regret
It would be the choice I made
That day just past midday
When the world dropped its mask.
There I stood adrift in thought
Drowning in a tide of anger
Sinking beneath my own silence
Wounded by what I didn’t know.
If I could build a softer clock
I’d turn its hands back gently
To the moment I saw you and him
But this time, I would ask.
I’d ask who he was, not assume.
I’d listen instead of walking away.
Can we return to that unspoken hour?
This time, I won’t choose pride over love.
In a world of haste and make believe
where time is a most valuable commodity,
do we really want to miss
chasing rainbows and cuddling kittens,
taking the scenic route and
smelling the roses along our way?
Sometimes a detour is the best shortcut.
AP: 3rd place 2025, Honorable Mention 2025
My Hands Today
My hands are getting old today.
They are getting old right in front of my eyes.
I suppose the rest of my face is following,
But I can not see that happening.
There is some peace in that,
But my hands…?
I don’t mind hard work.
I never minded hard work.
I liked hard work.
I felt needed,
And useful at times.
Yet…
My hands suffered from the ordeal,
At the appeal of filling my heart
With a harvest of memories.
I guess it is expected that my hands are showing my age.
I turn the page with a pleasant smile,
Knowing that regardless of the visage that is my reflection…
I know that the Lord is with me,
And He guides my hands even now…
I pray…
To do as He asks of me,
Anytime I am blessed to be called.
Aging is just part of the process
Of experience, and of life’s long journey.
My hands are getting old today,
But that…
Is okay.
friends from an other mother
ties mightier than blood
we gather here and there
the family we deserve
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
He had often tried before but always with no success
Always another closed door or making more of a mess
He was really at his wits end where he just didn’t care
Maybe some things don’t mend for life just isn’t fair
A few years had past and he rarely gave it a thought
On his list it was last of what he had now sought
But there just ahead was who he tried to forget
He’d prefer anything instead and then their eyes met
Both trying to look away their eyes once again meet
All those words he couldn’t say weren’t such a feat
And she finally replied so hurt by what he had done
About how he lied and walked out on their son
He knew he was wrong saying he wanted to apologize
Back then I wasn’t that strong but now I do realize
The best thing in my life is no longer there anymore
Losing my Wife my Son, for the first time my heart tore
I felt what I did to you, I felt what I did to our Son
And this pain is so new like something I’ve never done
Maybe it’s s too late and I know we can never go back
Perhaps it was fate that today put us on the same track
Into the magic, bubbling cauldron, I jumped in,
my mind, a cacophony of din.
I had thrown my life away.
So, this is how it would end -
into a boiling hell, descend?
When I was born, did fate portend
I would die without a friend
on this decisive dismal day.
Yet, this dreadful drop, my life didn't stop.
Instead, I rose back to the top,
and what did I see?
I hadn't, for a minute, drowned,
and, surprisingly, I'd found,
I was small and round,
a baby, pure and wee.
Washed away, my life of sin,
but memories, still dwelt within.
I could live my life another way.
I shouted with a happy voice -
for each decision, a different choice.
It was a time to rejoice.
It would be a brand-new day.
I would not have abandoned my friends.
My life would come to different ends,
and of the girl who gave my heart a lift,
sweet, Mary, kind and fair,
I would not leave her there
as if I didn't care.
I'd recognize God's gift.
But it was not how it did seem.
This potion gave me just a minute's dream.
and I found there is no doubt,
in life you don't know in advance,
and there is no second chance,
as boiling bubbles about me danced,
and my light went swiftly out.
If I had a second chance,
I would have erased all my past mistakes,
I would have turned all my wrong decisions into the right choices,
I would have changed the course of my life.
If I had a second chance,
I would not have been alone in this world,
I would have shared more time, love, and affection with her,
I would have death wait for a little longer for her.
If I had a second chance,
I would have shaped my personality a little better,
I would have controlled my stubbornness and anger,
I would have listened and respected the ideas of others.
If I had a second chance,
I would have reset the destiny of my life,
I am repenting my past for a moment,
I am wishing for an impossible second chance
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