Spring

by Carle Gregory Clemmons

the second man I love,
we'll find the wishbone
and make our wishes,
I won't even try for the strongest end,
because this time when the bone breaks
either way I'll be in.

I dream a World

by Langston Hughes

I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn.
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom's way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head,
And you, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all minkind.
Of such I dream-
Our World!

Where have you gone

by Mari Evans

Where have you gone

with your confident
walk with
your crooked

why did you leave
me
when you took your
laughter
and departed

are you aware that
with you
went the sun
all light
and what few stars
there were?

where have you gone
with your confident
walk your
crooked smile the
rent money
in one pocket and
my heart
in another...

First Person Demonstrative

by Phyllis Gotlieb

I'd rather
heave half a brick than say
I love you, though I do
I'd rather
Crawl in a hole than call you
darling, though you are
I'd rather
wrench off an arm than hug you though
it's what I long to do
I'd rather
gather a poison ivy than
ask you if you love me

so if my
hair doesn't stand on end it's because
I never tease it
and if my heart isn't in my mouth it's because
it knows its place
and if I
don't take a bite of your ear it's because
gristle gripes my guts
And if you
miss the message better get new
glasses and read it twice.

Reflections

by Vanessa Howard

If the world looked in a looking glass,
I'd see back hate, it'd see back war and it'd see
back sorrow,
It's see back fear.
If the world looked in a looking glass, it'd run
away with shame, and hide.