The Ndaba Acrostic--By Ndaba Sibanda--Saudi Arabia

The Ndaba Acrostic

News in English, nice sounds in your language!
Dancing with words on a dizzy floor of literature,
Adding an arty dimension to the voice of reason,
Brought to the floor to breathe life into words,
Anxious and addicted to how words really dance

Ndaba Sibanda is a Zimbabwean-born writer. His poems, essays and short stories have been published in Africa and the USA. Ndaba currently lives and teaches in Saudi Arabia. Of his career, he says, "writing is my life, and my second wife".

Baby and Great Granny--By Christine Tate--United States

Baby and Great Granny

When baby and great granny's eyes met
there was an instant connection,
a heartwarming display
of love and affection.

Great granny held baby tight
and she began to grin,
Oh to see her lovely smile
where a frown had been!

Baby kept staring at her
and she returned the stare...
their eyes said it all,
what a moment to share!

Tho baby and great granny
are many years apart,
there aren't any gaps in
the matters of the heart.

God sent down from heaven
a precious gift that day
between baby and great granny
in His own special way!

Christine Tate lives in New Jersey. She is the mother of three married sons and has eight grandchildren. She started writing inspirational poetry in 1994, and is blessed to encourage others and honor the Lord. She was widowed in 2007 and met her new husband Artie, a widower, in the nursing facility where their late mothers resided. They've been happily married for 2 1/2 years. Since neither of them ever expected to marry again, they consider it a "divine appt."

Haiku--By Elizabeth Howard--United States

first freeze
a frayed spider's orb
dangles from a post
_______________

Do Not Disturb . . .
he covers his head
with his bear blanket
_______________

fresh linen--
that boy
and his muddy feet!
_______________

pale dawn
just as the twins fall asleep
the alarm rings
_______________

the morning train
chugging up the mountain
toward the day moon
_______________

Elizabeth Howard lives in Crossville, Tennessee. She writes poetry and fiction. Her poems have appeared in Comstock Review, Big Muddy, Appalachian Heritage, Cold Mountain Review, Poem, Still, Mobius, Now & Then, Slant, and other journals.

Happiness--By Peter Duggan--Australia

Happiness

When sunrise comes, it makes me smile
A mystic silence greets me when
The birds they sing in grandest style
I am the happiest of men
When I do spot a fairy wren

When morning comes, it gives me joy
As darkness fades, and sun shines bright
This feeling, nothing could destroy
The dawn, it gives me such delight
As magpies sing in pure delight

I love to walk down to the lake
To watch the ducks swim lazily
Sometimes a mist is in the air
As sun shines through so hazily
As parrots scream from yonder tree

Some folk might say that I’m insane
Because I’m filled with happiness
From smiling, me I can’t refrain
I love to feel life’s sweet caress
The God of love, my soul does bless

Peter Duggan was born in Peckham, London, in 1943. He lived there until the age of sixty seven, when he met his Australian wife and immigrated to Western Australia. He has three children and seven grandchildren.  Peter describes himself as very happy

Merge--By Cristine A. Gruber--United States

Merge

There’s comfort in the key moments of each day:

The wind rattling the windows,
the alarm beginning to sound,
the location of one’s clothes,
the placement of one’s boots,
the constancy of one’s meals,
the creak of a closet door,
and the presence of life’s
most precious memories
being touched by the current of time.

There’s relief in routine,
safety in consistency,
sufficiency in the familiar,
warmth in knowing what to expect.

And peace in knowing
that certain things will never change,
serenity in accepting the things that do.

The past, forever
touching the present,
prepares us for the future.

Cristine A. Gruber, a Southern California native, is a registered caregiver as well as a widely-published poet. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines, including: North American Review, Writer’s Digest, California Quarterly, The Homestead Review, Iodine Poetry Journal, The Penwood Review, The Poet’s Haven, Red River Review, The Tule Review, Wilderness House Literary Review, and The Write Place at the Write Time. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Lifeline, is available from Amazon.com. More of Cristine's work can be found at http://sierraviewjournal.blogspot.com/.

2015: Year of the Sheep--By Jack Horne--England

2015: Year of the Sheep

The horse in its stable to sleep,
We come to the year of the sheep:
It starts as a lamb
And grows to a ram -
Perhaps balls of wool will be cheap…

Jack Horne enjoys reading and writing poetry.

Haiku--By Robert Epstein--United States

English ivy
I so want to be
a world citizen
_______________

after retirement
so much more red
in his wardrobe
_______________

leaning again
the ballerina
on the wall
_______________

March morning
what the mountains do
with mist
_______________

New Year's nap
awakening to
the stuffed tabby's stare
_______________

Robert Epstein is a licensed psychologist who lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited several anthologies: The Breath of Surrender: A Collection of Recovery-Oriented Haiku; Dreams Wander On: Contemporary Poems of Death Awareness; and The Temple Bell Stops: Contemporary Poems of Grief, Loss and Change; as well as two books of haiku: Checkout Time is Noon: Death Awareness Haiku; and A Walk Around Spring Lake: Haiku.  His most current anthology, The Sacred in Contemporary Haiku, was released in 2014.

Special Feature Collaborative Poem--By Robert Hewett Sr.--United States and Leokadia Durmaj--Australia

I Couldn’t Find You

By Robert Hewett Sr. and Leokadia Durmaj

I can feel the thunder and driving rain
Trying hard to shatter my window pane.
I can hear my heart pounding in my ear
Knotting my stomach and causing me to tear.
The deep shadows of my mind engulf me,
The lonely wind drowns my heart like the sea.
The fading train whistle in the dark night
Echoes the Whippoorwill call with all his might.
But I couldn’t find you
No, I couldn’t find you.

I stand mesmerized by the bedroom window,
Watching the crushing waves upon the shore.
The sea is dark as coal, so unforgiving!
Trees are swaying driven by howling winds
Seeing branches and leaves being ripped apart
Mercilessly, the violent storm surrounds us
Tearing apart Natures beautiful view
Silent prayers for mercy and strength to prevail
My thoughts turn to you my dear, where are you?
Must find you, could you be sleeping through the storm?

Close at Heart--By Peter Dome--United Kingdom

Close at Heart

Although we may live worlds apart
Love for true friends
Transcends through spirit goodwill
And love from heart
Two separate worlds and lives we may not understand
Brought together by fate of hand
Minds attuned waves of love
Travel upon the wings of pure white doves
Setting each other free
And gently guiding each other
To be who we want to be.

Hi, my name is Pete. I live in Sheffield, U.K. I hope you enjoy my poems. I look forward to reading yours. My best wishes. Pete.

saying good-by...By David Austin--United States

saying good-by
on a jet plane
the straight crowded aisle
my luggage overhead
the heavy door standing open
she's gone

David Austin is professional violinist and teacher, who communicates through poetry. He has played with the Cincinnati Symphony, taught at Colorado College and various public schools. He is a published author, who has been writing poetry and novels for over 40 years. His pride and joy is a shelter in which he feeds and cares for animals.  David is a member of Poetry Soup.

White Chrysanthemums in Bangkok--By Isha Wagner--New Zealand

White Chrysanthemums  in Bangkok

Blooms cascading from clay pot
On the low chipped table
Gleaming whiteness shines in the
Bright glowing light of day
Each flower a crush of petals
Transmitting the god's message
Of beauty to clear the head
To forget the aching mind
To forget the silent ones
To forget sins of omission

To remember clouds of love
Streaming upon reflection
From the white mirage.

Isha Wagner is a New Zealand poet. She has resided in many countries including Iceland, Libya, India, and Australia.  She read some of her work at the VIII International Poetry Festival held in Granada, Nicaragua, in February 2012. She has had three collections of poetry published.

Though Leaves May Die--By Marcus Omer--United States

Though Leaves May Die

When leaves were green and love was new,
our passion flowed with zest.
We yielded in true love debut,
a hunger marked our quest.

We filled the cup in youthful reign,
believed our prime was life's champagne.

When leaves were green and love was new,
to licit nights belong.
We lingered where the warm breeze blew,
believed no right, no wrong.

Those fickle days flew quickly by;
their fleeing made the night-wind sigh.

When leaves were green and love was new,
the depth we did not know.
Capricious days we bid adieu,
they fade with afterglow.

Though leaves may die, we drink again,
these golden years be our refrain.

Marcus Omer got serious about writing after he retired in 1997. He draws his inspiration from the many emotions we experience in life. He has published Of Sunshine and Clouds with iUniverse and The Winding Road with Shadow Poetry. He’s also published in Snippets, The Magic of Words and several issues of Golden Words.

Tanka--By Anne Curran--New Zealand

while dusting
I find her ruby brooch
beneath the potted plant
what does she remember
dreaming in her armchair?

(published presence 2013)
_______________

granddad
always said, ‘travel light’
leaving space
for love, laughter
and new destinations

(published kernels online, April 2014)
_______________

magnolia tree:
the full-bodied
white blossoms ...
amongst the confetti
this first kiss

(published a fine line 2012)
_______________

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse forms poet from Hamilton, New Zealand.  Anne has been writing poetry for about ten years with the encouragement of friends and family. She draws inspiration from the world around her. She has been fortunate to enjoy the wisdom of some fine editors and fellow poets.

Solstice Flowers--By Michael G. Smith--United States

Solstice Flowers

Suntali asks, why do rose petals have
such a precarious hold on the bloom?
I say, it is simpler to love the things
of this world when we nurture a loose grip.
Look, today the juniper titmice fledged
and quietly the Sun begins turning south.
She points to the one-day halo of blooms
sprung by the potted Mammillaria,
petals shining pink, bright yellow anthers
screaming to be touched by a bee or wind,
that during the night will become a clique
of gray, withered stalks. She says, but they die
too soon. And I think, too, of the blessed
joy watching a child’s innocence grow.

Michael G. Smith is a semi-retired chemist whose poetry has been published in many literary journals and anthologies. Recently he has been writing sonnets about his relationship with his adopted Nepali niece, Suntali, whom he helped fetch from Kathmandu with her mother, Patricia. His book No Small Things (Tres Chicas Books) was published in 2014. Visit his sites at http://michaelgsmithpoetry.com/ and
https://www.facebook.com/michaelgsmithpoetry

Special Feature Collaborative Poem--By Joan McNerney and Marianne Szlyk--United States

Twelve steps to spring

By Joan McNerney and Marianne Szlyk

bramble on snow
soft bird song

scentless dogwood, azalea, and rose
bring color to our pastel neighborhood

toddlers stomping
over puddles

open your windows
to lilacs in warm rain

hearing our creek as
it races downstream

Saturday morning’s lawn mowers
hum and buzz over grass and buttercups

noontime perfumed
berries, new grass

cherry blossoms surf the wind
from branches to uncut grass

winds gently kiss
our foreheads

past dinnertime, teenagers parade in sunlight
while children on scooters race after them

shy blue evening
black trees against sky

listening to baseball over the ceiling fan
old lovers on their porch share ice cream

Frozen In Time (for Donna)--By Michael Todd--United States

Frozen In Time (for Donna)

Nostalgic thoughts and remembrances, frozen in time...
A large get together, neighborhood gathers for croquet,
Or, for one or two, find that special tree to climb.
Cares of the world, a world away, was a time to play.

Late of the day, we would listen for the bell to toll.
Eskimo Pies, Bullets, Shivers, one or more if you please.
Frozen treats awaited, as the Merry Mobile would roll.
Push Ups, Dreamsicles, Twin Pops, provide the freeze.

No cares in the world, nothing could rain on our parade.
We held the Buried Treasure in our hands, on a stick.
One dime at a time, and we were off to find out shade.
Lest you want it to melt, better off to eat it quick.

I am grateful for what brought this back to my recall.
It allows me to reflect on times past, in subtle mime.
I hope this allows the same for others, time to stall,
And gather in your youthful memories, frozen in time.

Michael Todd aka Myke Todd has been writing and posting stories and poetry on social networking sites since 2006. He can currently be found at his dedicated poetry site... http://myketodd.blogspot.com/

Glimmers of Light--By Sandra Stefanowich--Canada

Glimmers of Light

Outside the streets burst into fire
the smoke took my breath away
fences had become barbed wire
forgiveness; someone had to pay

as good souls perished in the heat
roads buckled, breaking in sadness
heartbreak trailed beneath my feet
hatred gripped the world in madness

then a glimmer of light from above
I turned and saw the face of hope
a child reached out in tears of love
trying to find his own way to cope

through my falling tears I prayed
that there has to be a better way
can't we mend our hearts so frayed
to find love again in the light of day

there will be a better day this I know
until then I'll keep reaching out in love
show me the path of peace to follow
glimmers of light I see high up above

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sandra is a self taught writer. She has been writing off and on since an early age. Most of her writing revolves around what she sees in everyday life, nature and her concerns about mankind. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, animals and photography.

As Seasons Dance--By Suzanne Delaney--United States

As Seasons Dance

Wing footed winter’s dance is of grey skies,
bare branch silhouettes in silver gowns
dormant magic within icy poses
brilliant halls bedecked with frost flowers

Into the Grand Ballrooms of springtime
The sweep of pastel ball gowns all awhirl
Fresh pirouettes agleam with sparkling dewdrops
To bring alive the dreaming garden songs

Until the partners change at summer’s start
Now gowns sway green as -green as willow boughs
And all the maiden’s heads are strewn with flowers
While love renewed replaces all past cares

Then as the leaves turn slowly- red to brown
All regal shades of velvet now adorn
The dancers bow the way of beauty flown
Their hearts have pledged a promise to return

Suzanne Delaney is a retired Registered Nurse. A resident of Hawaii, USA she was born in Tasmania. She now has time to pursue her passion for writing poetry, creating collages and for traveling.

Haiku--By Barbara Tate--United States

hunter's moon
in the noon of night
--deer crossing
_______________

mums
autumn flowers
in silent communion
_______________

sunset walk
I trace the rainbow's end
_______________

distant drums
I hear the summons
to the ghost dance
_______________

winter evening
by firelight
grandma beads my moccasins
_______________

Being of Native American descent, Barbara Tate's work often reflects her Lakota heritage. She is a member of the Haiku Society of America, Gulf Coast Writers Assoc., and the United Haiku and Tanka Society. Her work has appeared in Storyteller Magazine, Magnolia Quarterly, Frogpond, Modern Haiku, bear creek haiku, Poet's Art and Brass Bell, among others. She lives in Winchester, TN.

Winter Image--By Gert W. Knop--Germany

Winter Image

Memories,
imbedded in thoughts,
passed time
melts away in the current
of presence
like snow flurry

Short days
pass with songs of blackbirds
like pipe dreams.
Buried fir-tree green
under white
between
dark water of the Mandau

Lonely sun rays
flying over glittering ice.
Through small clouds' haze
light breaks through.
Houses and sky
unite
in distant fog

Gert W. Knop, born in 1943, studies art and tropical agriculture in Germany and Scotland (University of Edinburgh). He has lived in many different countries and writes mainly in German, English and Spanish. He currently resides in Zittau (Saxony), Germany.

You Won’t be Lonely Long--By Jean Calkins--United States

You Won’t be Lonely Long

Only one snowflake? That can’t be.
How can a snowman be built?
We must have drifts, and white all around,
thick like a downy quilt.

Oh, don’t let me put you down, snowflake;
you are a gorgeous sight.
Falling from dreary skies of gray,
drifting into the night.

You twist and turn in the crackling breeze,
frigid enough to break
into a glittering silver dust;
there can be no mistake,

for miracles drift from a stormy sky
and more cannot help but trail
behind you, descending from heavenly home,
precursor of winter’s gale.

Jean, at 80, has been writing poems since she was 18. For 25 years she published a popular poetry quarterly of up to 100 pages, with a subscribership of nearly 500. Illness in 1986 ended the magazine. She currently publishes, by email, a 2-page monthly of clean humor. Contact her at jcalkins01@charter.net.

A Pebble On The Mountain--By Pam Murray--Canada

A Pebble On The Mountain

Thirty years have laid my surface bare,
Padded shape and painted silver hair.
They’ve leant my mind a different point of view
And blinded eyes that once looked up to you.

Thirty years laid waste the dreams of youth
Controlling my achievements with the truth.
And thirty years have opened up my eyes
I see how far I am from being wise.

Thirty years once seemed so far away
But now it seems I started yesterday
Along a road that traveled much too fast,
A blur of motion as it spiraled past.

Thirty years is just a knot in time;
A pebble on this mountain that I climb.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Pam Murray has been writing poetry since the mid-1960’s.  She was married for over 41 years and has two daughters, a son-in-law, and a grandson.  Pam has been published in a variety of venues.  Her proudest writing accomplishment was a poem she wrote for a United Way fundraiser, which was later framed with a French translation and hung on the wall of the legislature in Ottawa, Canada.  To her, poetry is a transposition of a vision she sees in her mind.  Writing and crocheting are her passions.

Carpe Diem--By Andrea Dietrich--United States

Carpe Diem

When sun is shining
I love to reach out my arms
and grab its brilliance.
If I can do nothing more,
at least I have seized the day.

Andrea Dietrich grew up in Iowa and now resides in Utah with a spouse and two cats. She has two grown children and six grandchildren. Having graduated BYU with a Spanish major/ESL minor, she has spent most of her adult life teaching. It wasn't until 2000 that she began writing in earnest and discovering her "niche" as a writer of lyrical poetry. The internet opened up a new world for her, and she has spent nearly a decade now participating in poetry clubs, acting as a judge of poetry contests for various magazines and for the website Shadow Poetry.

Special Feature Collaborative Poem--By Beth Winchcombe and Jack Horne--England

Two Thousand and Fifteen

By Beth Winchcombe and Jack Horne

It's easy making New Year resolutions.
Keeping them is a challenge!

I'll go on that diet this new year,
but it'll have to start tomorrow...

New Year, new beginnings.
Make the most of new opportunities!

And if opportunity doesn't knock,
I’ll keep listening for it to ring the bell...

One wish I pray for,
Lord grant me HEALTH, not wealth!

Although, being healthy and wealthy
would sure be welcome...

May our friendship continue to flourish.
Liken marriage vows, ' till death do us part'

May our friendship continue,
and last longer than my marriage...

Unconditional love I bestow on you.
Faith and hope will see us through!

I hope for love,
and I’ll be faithful when I’ve found it…

Music is a great healer.
Let us sing our way through life!

I’ll enjoy life’s party -
even though I can’t dance…

Reach out and touch technology...
...propel the way forward!

I look forward to the future
and discovering what each day brings..

Happy 2015!

Haiku--By ayaz daryl nielsen--United States

grandparent's laughing
scent
of lutefisk
_______________

birdsong across
the meadow flowers
I know you’re near
_______________

snoring
    a nail hammered
    a board cut
_______________

ayaz daryl nielsen is a husband, father, veteran, x-roughneck (as on oil rigs)/hospice nurse, editor of bear creek haiku (25+ years/120+ issues), homes include Lilliput Review, Jellyfish, Whispers, Shamrock, and! bearcreekhaiku.blogspot.com (translates as joie de vivre)

Carving--By d. n. simmers--Canada

Carving

“ Great carving does no cutting.”
           Attributed to Lao Tzu

Take a stone. Throw it away.
A chunk of weathered root. Burn it.
Or look what is inside. Both.
Little shots of light and dark that could be
a shadow of a face.
Smiling or sad.
A large wolf hiding there.
Looking over a meadow for changes.
Linked. Lines of brown and cream.
Light flowing down and through a piece.
As if it was telling its own story for eyes.
There. Sad year of storms that took the tree.
The rock creaking and cracking with the frost.
Root torn from its mother. Rock split
from its sisters. Down.
Driven out to the sea with a river swollen.
Driven back by further storms. Life.
Washed up with crabs. With all the birds
Watching . To pick it up and drop it.
Somewhere inland.

d. n. simmers is an on line editor with Fine Lines. He is in will be in Poetry Salzburg Review, The Storyteller, Iconoclast, Plainsongs, California Quarterly, Poets Touchstone, Bluestem, and  Nomad's Choir. He is on line in poetrymag.com, red river review, new american digital, storyacious, and word press. He is in an newly launched anthology Royal City Poets ( 4) and was in Van Gogh's Ear, Paris France.

Soft Raindrops, A Villanelle--By Sheri Stanley--United States

Soft Raindrops, A Villanelle

Soft raindrops play staccato on my heart
A dance designed to stir and hypnotize
Deep mesmerizing blends right from the start.

Purely enticing blends when we're apart
Tricking the mind to yearn and agonize
Soft raindrops play staccato on the heart.

Sweet lullaby in abstract tears of art
Haunting the heart as if to patronize
Deep mesmerizing blends right from the start.

Brings a haunting pain to every part
That echoes deep and never really dies
Soft raindrops play staccato on the heart.

Deep ling'ring rain entices ev'ry part
Ignites a fire of dreams and finite highs
Soft raindrops play staccato on the heart
Deep mesmerizing blends right from the start.

Sheri is an artist, song writer and poet. She is also a graphic and digital book illustrator. A citizen of the United States she enjoys golf and music and quiet evenings at home with her much cherished family.  Her website is www.poetryandbeyond.net

Yearning for Spring--By Elly Wouterse--Netherlands

Yearning for Spring

nature sings softly her lively recital
everything is glorious and looks vital
the swans exhibit courtship behavior
their dances visual pieces for their spring-paviour

thrushes chitter their earliest symphony
birdseed germinates and outspreads spring widely
two newts show a beautiful mating dance
strawberry plants use their early spring chance

a show of new born green just above the ground
alders’ pollen causing sneezing peoples' sound
few snowdrops, celandine, white dead nettle
and hazel trees show leaves and huge mettle

appetite dictates this walk with our dog
a craved annual entry in our blog
at length awaited while walking and watching
dozens of reasons for thinking and talking

the artificial Christmas tree recently packed
the baubles and the glass peak safely wrapped
a large cup of hot chocolate a good mate
served forthwith stale Christmas cookies on a plate

Dutch poetess Elly Wouterse is oftentimes focused observing the world surrounding her. While watching, noticing, listening, thinking, dreaming and - or fantasizing she often finds the inspiration resulting in Poetical Visuals published on her own website - http://www.ellywouterse.com/ and in her first publication, Between Moonset and Sunrise. http://www.ellywouterse.com/special-edition.html

Haiku--By Kelley White--United States

mail box
with a whale tail flag
jaws snapped shut on Junk mail
_______________

March 21st
first robin
first worm
_______________

Memorial Day
a string of geese fly
over the monument
_______________

Pediatrician Kelley White worked in inner city Philadelphia and now works in rural New Hampshire. Her poems have appeared in journals including Exquisite Corpse, Rattle and JAMA. Her most recent books are Toxic Environment (Boston Poet Press) and Two Birds in Flame (Beech River Books.) She received a 2008 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts grant.

JANUARY ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES

NEW CONTRIBUTORS IN DECEMBER

            Angelee Deodhar--India
            Anna Donovan--United States 
            Robert Henry Poulin--United States                   
            Peggy Dugan French--United States
            Olive Eloisa D. Guillermo--Philippines
            John Swain--United States
            Arvinder Kaur--India
            Paresh Tiwari--India

Please welcome them to our community.  We now have representatives from the following countries--Australia, Botswana, Canada, Canary Islands, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Malawi, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Wales.  I look forward to expanding this list in the future. Thank you to everyone that has supported Whispers in any way.                      --Sincerely,  Karen

We have a world wide audience. If you are currently reading Whispers, please consider submitting a poem for consideration. You may contact Karen at gksm@cableone.net for guidelines. Thank you.

Note--Ads due for February column by January 25

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Celine Rose Mariotti has a new mystery/detective book called Minister’s Shoes in which Rev. Castle helps Sada Sampson find her husband and he also proves that Trevor is innocent of killing Cartwright. The story involves casino deals, infidelity, gambling and some big town gossips who are knee deep in the casino deals.  Price of book is: $11.00. If you live in CT, sales tax is 6.35 so price would be $11.70.  Postage is $2.70.  You can order from Amazon or you can order from me: celinem@aol.com

Tom Davis, Old Mountain Press editor, offers a free Kindle book: They That Go Down to the Sea A poetry and Prose Anthology for download on January 15 and 25. The book's theme is anything about oceans, lakes, rivers and the people, places, activities and things that celebrate this beautiful part of our country.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NJD8S90

Peter Dome released his first book of poetry called Love, Life and Inspiration, a collection of poems written from the heart. It is suitable for everyone with a wide range of topics including, nature, wisdom and spirituality. Peter hopes his book will bring a lot of pleasure to others. It is available at Lulu.com.

Maureen Sudlow has a poetry book, Antipodes, was released in early December. More information is available on her website www.kiwis-soar.com

Maralee Gerke has published a new book of poetry called A New Lexicon. If you are interested please ask for more information at mgerke@crestviewcable.com

Sheri Stanley has opened a new web site and invites you to visit at: www.poetryandbeyond.net Please leave comments and visit often.

Shloka Shankar has a poetry page on Facebook called 'Shloka Shankar: a rasika's musings'. To read more of her poems, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shloka-Shankar-a-rasikas-musings/745965042120215?ref_type=bookmark

Lisa DeVinney has a website for her devotional poetry called Lifting My Eyes, at liftingmyeyes.com

Karen O’Leary released Whispers, her first book of poetry in 2011, published by APF Publisher. It has been getting good reviews and is available at online at www.lulu.com (Search Whispers under Karen O'Leary) or contact Karen at gksm@cableone.net

John W. (Bill) Williams published a science fiction book that he also illustrated called The Dream Hill.  To order copies from Xlibris Company call 1-888-795-4274 or go to www.Xlibris.com  The website provides sample pages of the book for interested readers.

PUBLICATION/CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES

Please consider supporting The Jokester and Creative Inspirations by sending stamps or other small donations to help with postage.  Thank you for considering this.                                                                                                     ---Karen

Maurice J. Reynolds, the editor of the poetry publication Creative Inspirations, is seeking poetry 20 lines or less for his print magazine. Complete guidelines are available at www.tgbtgpublictions.com  Stamps or cash donations would be appreciated to help with mailing costs.

ayaz daryl nielsen's print publication bear creek haiku is always open for postal submissions, mail poetry to bear creek haiku, po box 3787, boulder, co, 80307, USA, 11 lines and less, include SASE. Can be contacted at darylayaz@me.com, blog site is bearcreekhaiku.blogspot.com.

Tom Davis, publisher of Old Mountain Press, invites all to review his eBook site (Kindle and NOOK) where numerous Old Mountain Press Anthologies of poetry and prose are listed see: Self-publish an electronic book e-book with Old Mountain Press

Jean Calkins, editor: The Jokester, 2 pages of clean jokes free by email monthly, a forever stamp by snail mail (monthly or quarterly). Help bring smiles to shut-ins by contributing forever stamps. Even one stamp helps. Jean Calkins, 260 4th St., Waynesville, NC 28786-3762. jcalkins01@charter.net

David Fox is seeking family-friendly poems for his magazine, The Poet's Art. Rates for the publication are $5 an issue or $20 for a 4 issue subscription. Checks should be made to cash.  Foreign contributors should pay $10 by international money order or American cash only.  Send submissions and  money for subscriptions to David Fox,171 Silverleaf Lane, Islandia, NY 11749 USA.

Whispers is always looking for new writers to join our community.  Please send family friendly poems 20 lines or less to gksm@cableone.net  Complete guidelines posted 1/21/2013.  Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the site.

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