Sunset in the Smokies--By Tom Davis--United States

Sunset in the Smokies

Pink, beige, and grey
Clouds

Backdrop

Green sprinkled
Smokies

Soon

Night will come
and chase away
the day

In his younger years, Tom Davis served as a Special Force Combat Diver. It seems to him that he spent more time on, in, and under the water than as a landlubber. This and other adventures he has written about in his memoir, The Most Fun I Ever Had With My Clothes On: A March From Private to Colonel. http://www.oldmp.com/davismemoirs

An Acrostic Poem--By Mary Gunn--Ireland

An Acrostic Poem – in memory of Marion G.

May your celebration of Hallowe’en

And the joy you brought to children’s faces

Remain in the memory of the next generation

Inspiring them to continue the ways of old.

October’s end brought birthday and broomstick

No matter what the weather.

Mary Gunn is a writer from Ireland who has been writing haiku, tanka and other forms of poetry for a few years. Her writing has been published in journals and magazines in Ireland and overseas.

336 Longs Peak Ave.--By ayaz daryl nielsen--United States

336 Longs Peak Ave.

together, we grow 

into wizened children

this festival of us,

something so true, it’s 

often taken for granted

holy to defend, a 

sadness worth dying for

and yet, and yet

nothing stops ending

here comes the night

look, the cat wants out,

how like a cat.

kiss me.

ayaz daryl nielsen, veteran, former hospice nurse, ex-roughneck (as on oil rigs) lives in Longmont, Colorado.  Editor of bear creek haiku (26+ years/135+ issues) with poetry published worldwide, he also is online at:  bear creek haiku poetry, poems and info 

Glowbirds--By Sheikha A.--Pakistan and U.A.E.

Glowbirds

Let us write wise words today

about the size of heaven.

If I were given a piece of it

larger than the sky and earth,

I’d borrow wings from birds

fly over their perch to glow

afore the sun.

I’d find a brave heart of a lonely 

hummingbird, and see its hollow

fill with the warmth of the moon.

I’d wish for opposites

like a river never turning dry

and watch it change the salty eyes 

of a fish to hope.

Let us write miracles today

about a piece of peace 

in a labourer’s crushed tin bowl.

Let us write today

about the size of heaven:

the synonyms for dreams.

Sheikha A. is from Pakistan and U.A.E. and often finds herself in a world of oscillation that most of the times motivates her writing too. She maintains a (or tries to) blog on sheikha82.wordpress.com.  

Use It or Lose It--Ron Larson--United States

Use It or Lose It

We need to learn to love our fellow man.

Anyone in need who needs a helping hand.

It either grows or it dies, it's as simple as can be.

So open your heart and let your love flow free.

Use it or lose it, you can't wear it out.

It's real love I'm talking about.

Use it or lose it, time and time again.

It comes from the heart, so use it my friend.

You'll find that loving really feels fine,

And it will put the world in a better state of mind.

So love everyone, each and every day.

And life will be better, each and every way.

Ron Larson is a retired community college professor (Ph.D.) and has had both fiction and non-fiction published in various journals over the years. He has been writing poetry for the last two years. His poems have been accepted by such diverse magazines as The American Dissident, Big Pulp, and WestWard Quarterly.

The Plum Tree--By Neil Creighton--Australia

The Plum Tree

For my grandchildren, Bella, Jett,

Eleanor, Max, Emmanuel and James

Look little ones,

The leaves have turned yellow,

The sky is pure blue,

The day mild and mellow.

Look little ones,

The trees have turned bare,

There’s frost in the morning

And cold everywhere.

Look little ones,

There’s buds on the trees,

Flowers are blossoming

And buzzing with bees.

Look little ones,

In this blossoming blooming

The cycle of life

Is forever renewing.

Neil Creighton lives with his wife, Diana, on a small property northwest of Sydney. He loves trees, bush walking and that moment when summer's heat seeps away and the world turns towards Autumn. He loves Labrador dogs. He loves the shimmer, glow and music of words. His poems have been published in anthologies and many journals. He blogs at "Wind of Flowers. Poems by Neil Creighton.”

Rummy, Skip-Bo, Checkers, and War--By Jennifer Criss--United States

Rummy, Skip-Bo, Checkers, and War

She liked to play board games and card games

and would win every time.

Letting someone win (even a kid) was considered a crime.

Rummy, Skip-Bo, Checkers, and War.

We’d play and play, then play some more.

The only breaks were when “wrastling” or her stories were on

or when she’d cook for us or sing us a song.

I remember fondly grandma’s voice, her hugs,

and her strong perfume.

It still seems sometimes that she’s here- in the room.

But over twenty years have passed since her songs were heard

and the shouting over cards, calling “You dirty bird!”

Fun times were always had and there should have been more,

but we remember fondly, Rummy, Skip-Bo, Checkers, and War

Jennifer Criss graduated from Ball State University with a minor in Creative Writing, a lifelong passion.  She is currently collaborating on an anthology for older adults and helps lead a writing support group. Jennifer writes mostly short stories but has discovered a love for writing poetry.  Her poetry has been published in Poebita Magazine. She now works at Ball State, is a busy mother of two girls and her pen keeps moving. She is an editorial assistant with Indiana Voice Journal.

Questioning--By Jean Calkins--United States

Questioning

A pill for this, another pill for that;

A pill to counteract the side effects.

Our bodies must cry out in silent rage

As we reduce them, gradually, to wrecks.

No search is made to find the basic cause;

We only treat complaints, the aches, the pains.

As chemicals disrupt our whole life balance,

And only greedy pockets reap the gains.

Jean, at 82, 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 joker31277@yahoo.com October 2016 will be her last issue. 

Wells of Salvation--By Evelyn Splane

Wells of Salvation

I sat in the shadow, my harp I’d laid down.
I longed to be used, Lord; I hoped for a crown.
My soul seemed so dry, tho’; my heart sad and lone.
I heard then a whisper—here’s what it made known:

Wells of Salvation, springs that are pure,
Streams in the Desert, rivers of Life,
Oceans of blessings, fountains of love—
Cause me to drink, Lord ‘till my heart overflows.
God showed me a river, a clear flowing tide.
It came from a distance, its borders so wide.
It swept o’er my being, ‘till it purged all my stain.
It gave me my song back—Hear now the refrain.

Now from the flood tides that stream from God’s throne
I drink in the blessings and make them my own;
Then I dip from the cisterns deep down in my soul,

And pour out to others ‘till they be made whole.

At her own expense Evelyn Splane traveled many times back and forth from Canada, her homeland, to India for the fifty years she was an active missionary.  She lived in a modest, one-bedroom suite in the basement of a church, in Toronto. In April of 2006, due to her advancing age, and deteriorating health, she moved West to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Hart and Helen Dowd.  Now, as her health does not permit, she can no longer travel about from place to place in her homeland to create and renew an interest in the Lord's work in her adopted land of India. However, she generously gives of her meager income to help others go. (If you want to read more of Evelyn’s stories, check out:http://occupytillicome.ca/missionary/     

Breadcrumbs--By Michael Lee Johnson--United States

Breadcrumbs

Smiling across the ravine,

snow cloaked footbridge.

Prickly ropes slick with ice,

snow clad boards pepper sprinkled

with raccoon tracks, virgin markers,

a fresh first trail.

Across and safe,

I toss yellow bread crumbs

onto white snow, for starving birds.

Michael Lee Johnson is a poet, editor, publisher, freelance writer, amateur photographer, small business owner in Itasca, Illinois.  He has been published in more than 880 small press magazines in 27 countries, and he edits 10 poetry sites.  Michael is the author of The Lost American:  From Exile to Freedom, several chapbooks of poetry, including From Which Place the Morning Rises and Challenge of Night and Day, and Chicago.  See his website for more about him http://poetryman.mysite.com/     

Heart of the Sun--By Scott Thomas Outlar--United States

Heart of the Sun

You sent me the picture

of a sunflower

on your way to work

but truly

you gifted me

the entire sun

when you walked into my world

Scott Thomas Outlar hosts the site 17Numa.wordpress.com where links to his published poetry, fiction, essays, and interviews can be found. He has three poetry collections currently available: Songs of a Dissident (Transcendent Zero Press, 2015), Happy Hour Hallelujah (CTU Publishing, 2016), and Chaos Songs (Weasel Press, 2016).

Precipitation--By Sanjeev Sethi--India

Precipitation

Images collide, chased by a niagara of words

and nonwords. Every outing is a buffet

in an al fresco of experience. This season,

there is no struggle. I have to shift my salver

to the stations: stewards fix the scarcities.

Sometimes the proportions aren’t right

but that isn’t worth a wrangle. Nothing is:  

when rain has weight, wetness is beatitude.

May every bash be a banquet in this riff of rainstorms.

(First Published in Allegro Poetry Magazine)

Sanjeev Sethi has authored three books of poetry.  This Summer and That Summer (Bloomsbury, 2015) is his latest work. He is widely published in several countries, and lives in Mumbai, India. Recently in Off the Coast, The Five-Two, W.I.S.H. Press, Easy Street, Mad Swirl, The Ofi Press Literary Magazine, and elsewhere.

What is Life?--By Richard Sponaugle--United States

What is Life?

Wide eyed dreams never set sail;

blown like dust by gusts that wail.

But my bitterness ended,

once the wind was befriended.

Call me a bum and a drifter.

Some folks think I’m a grifter,

on a slow job from the cops,

cause my homes are mere pit stops

I go where the zephyrs lead me.

My laissez faire life’s freed me.

My goals are achieved each day;

seeing sunrise by the bay.

My dreams come true every night;

gazing at stars and twilight.

But the biggest change yet trod,

is getting closer to God.

Richard Sponaugle was born 4-20-60 in Maryland and raised in Northern Virginia.  He received a BA from George Mason University. A prolific poet and songwriter, he has been published in many venues.

Together to Tomorrow--By Maricris Cabrera--Philippines

Together to Tomorrow

I've got pocketful of dreams
as I take steps up the stairs
each level I climb, a moonbeam
guiding light to a bright tomorrow.

Take me by the hand as we go higher
take a deep breath, it will be a long journey
start a new beginning, a new chapter
I thank you for bringing me into the light.

Let's always believe something wonderful
is about to happen; love, hope, miracle
today I close my door from the past
open the door to the future, footprints.

Maricris Cabrera is a wife and mother from the Philippines. She has been writing since 2009. Maricris joined Poems and Quotes, Poets and Poets Dream communities at Google Plus last year, where she started posting her poems.  She hopes you enjoy her poetry.

Emergency Room--By Lois Greene Stone--United States

Emergency Room

My fingers circled smooth

transparent plastic that

cradled my nostrils.  Could

I sneeze?  Would clips come

out?  Every twenty minutes

my arm was grabbed by

an inflatable cuff.  Pump,

pump, pump.  Whish.

Blood pressure.  Noise.

Hallway sounds of

wheeled trays on tile

floors. Clank.  Not

a trolley’s sound.

I liked trolleys. 

“How are we feeling”

asks an attendant.

Can I say: scared

(Previously published Summer/Fall 2013, SNReview

Lois Greene Stone, writer and poet, has been syndicated worldwide. Poetry and personal essays have been included in hard & softcover book anthologies. Collections of her personal items/ photos/ memorabilia are in major museums including twelve different divisions of The Smithsonian.

Anxious--By Lynn White--Wales

Anxious

I am dancing in the sunlight,
the bright, bright light.
I know the cloud is there
but I can forget it, till I stop.
And then..
There it is, even bigger
and blacker than before.
Darker than ever.
It doesn’t like me dancing,
doesn’t like the laughter
or the sunshine.
Brightness breaks it,
shatters it into a grey mist.
But still it won’t leave me.
The brighter the sunlight,
the louder the laughter,
the greater my fear
that it will form again
and suck me into its darkness.

First published by Ealain, Into The Dark, Issue 10, May 2015

Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. Her poems have been widely published.

Beneath the ragged edge of fall--By Carolyn Martin--United States

Beneath the ragged edge of fall,

lagging leaves stain the mossed sidewalks.

Weary, wet, intractable, they’ve lost

the lyric tint of cherry, maple, plum;

the beat of alder, oak, and elm.

They’ll fossil on concrete unless

some poet rakes them into lasting lines

like Letters spelling ‘death’ are not a death

or Nothing is forever just itself.

Previously published in Elohi Gadugi

Carolyn Martin is blissfully retired in Clackamas, Oregon, where she gardens, writes, and plays. Her poems and book reviews have appeared in journals throughout the US and UK, and her second collection, The Way a Woman Knows, was released in 2015 (www.thewayawomanknows). Since the only poem she wrote in high school was red-penciled "extremely maudlin," she is amazed she has continued to write.

Tanka--By Anne Curran--New Zealand

this poet
reminds me of my brother
the line of his jaw ...
as he speaks words
that make my eyes shine
________________

he talks freely
of the pain
he is feeling ...
all I can see
is the clarity of his eyes
________________

mature faces
at the poetry reading
on Friday night ...
teenagers skateboard
on the pavement outside
________________

Anne Curran is a Hamiltonian and New Zealander.  She writes in awe and admiration of all those Japanese verse poets and editors who have encouraged her on this journey.

rain--By Chelsea Jones--United States

rain

I walk barefoot in the rain

I sing songs for people who don’t exist

I place purpose in the hands of those willing to take it

I am soaked to the skin and I am well

Chelsea Jones is a musician and artist living in Kingsburg, California. She is a recent graduate of University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in french horn performance and electronic music. Her work is upcoming in Noctua Review and she has been previously published in Abridged Magazine, Red Wheelbarrow Magazine, Chinquapin Magazine, Peel Magazine, and Gaia Magazine. More of her work can be found at chelseaejones.tumblr.com.

These Confessions, These Heartbeats--By Bibhu Padhi--India

These Confessions,

These Heartbeats

The evening lights vanish without notice;

now darkness is all one can talk about.

The evening gossip veers towards

a place where nothing ever happens.

Someone comes in to tell me how

my confessions have been ignored.

From somewhere the enemies have procured

mouth and tongue to use them against me.

I think, there are two ways to deal

with the dark mouthing words:

to shout louder than ever so that

even the night trembles and goes still,

or to dissuade oneself from

further speech, further words.

Since it is dark and every whisper

is heard through the night air,

I decide to be a part of the night,

teach myself not to be heard,

but only to lie on the reed-bed and listen

to those reassuring, clear heartbeats.

Bibhu Padhi has published ten collections of poems. His work has appeared in magazines and anthologies throughout the English-speaking world. He lives in Bhyubaneswar (India) with his family.

“Sara from South Dakota”--By Richard Carl Subber--United States

“Sara from South Dakota”

You’re the kid who yelled “I love the ocean!” the first time you saw it.

You’re the little kid who didn’t want to go back to the house for supper.

You’re the kind of kid who won’t stand still while Mom puts the lotion on.

You’re the kind of kid who won’t cry when the sunburn hurts.

You’re the little girl who wanted to help that baby fill up her little blue bucket.

You would NOT let your brother help you build your castles.

You’re the kid who doesn’t want to go home to South Dakota “ ‘cause it’s too far from the ocean, which is really fun.”

You’re the little kid who wasn’t afraid to ask me “What’s on the other side of the ocean?”…

     and you listened to my explanation, even though it was too long.

You said “Thank you,” and I guessed that I had taught you something.

You’re young enough to be my granddaughter…

     maybe I’ll have a granddaughter like you some day.

Later, at sundown, I saw that a child had written her name in the wet sand just below the high tide mark:

“Sara from South Dakota”

∼∼∼∼∼∼∼

with a squiggly line under her name. I knew it was you.

You’re the kind of kid who would do it.

You’re the kind of kid who would say good-bye to the ocean.

That’s a pretty big thing for a kid to do.

Richard Carl Subber (Rick) is a freelance editor, a writing coach and a historian. He lives with his family in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. He’s a former newspaper reporter/editor who now indulges his love of the right words.  Rick is a proud grandpa who is teaching his granddaughter to read and write, in case there is poetry in her future.  His poetry appears in The Australia Times Poetry Magazine, miller’s pond poetry magazine, The RavensPerch, Northern Stars, and elsewhere. His blog: http://barleyliterate.blogspot.com/  

Summer Vacation--By Neena Singh--India

Summer Vacation

A ramshackle, blue hand-cart stands abandoned in the park, where I walk my dog. I see urchins playing in and around it. They have placed bricks to replace the broken wheels. One of the boys rocks them up and down amidst loud giggles and laughter.

My dog jumps into the bandwagon with the children who know her well, and I take a picture on my cell phone. Now they all jump out and pester me to show it to them and ask me to take some more.

children’s laughter - 

      shared green mangoes   

                     trains and rockets

Neena Singh is the author of Whispers of the Soul - The Journey Within, a book of poetry showcasing her passion for nature and life. The book and e-book are available on Amazon. She is the creator of ‘soul2soul’, a well-loved group on Facebook, committed to spreading peace, goodwill and light through theme-based discussions among members. She has received awards for her contribution in banking, management and social work. Neena lives with her husband, Prithpal and her golden lab, Rumi, in Chandigarh.

Bereft--By David Palmer--United States

Bereft

Priceless pearls scattered as the necklace

Was snapped, ripped away by greedy

Hands, envious of your sublime beauty

And even gentler encouragement. Bounced

Every one of them cross cobblestones, cracks,

And down the storm drain irretrievable.

Holding that golden empty promise string

Your fountain of tears so scalded my soul.

Could I but hold you, say comforting words,

I would have. But words are trite when the heart

Is blistered in injustice’s heat.

We gathered what we could, returning

To the Sea, knifing open more oysters

Restringing your dream, one pearl at a time.

David Palmer makes his home in Renton, Washington, just outside Seattle.  As a former minister, and avid reader, he is a lover of poetry and has written 88 sonnets, mostly for the delight of his friends.  He currently works for Bloodworks Northwest in Bellevue, Washington, a blood center supplying whole blood, platelets and plasma for transfusion to patients in hospitals in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.

SEPTEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES

NEW CONTRIBUTORS IN AUGUST—

                                    Sondra J. Byrnes—United States

                                    Aparna Pathak—India

                                    Charlotte Digregorio—United States

                                    Renee’ Drummond-Brown—United States

                                    Diane Webster—United States

NEW POSITION—

                                    Michael Escoubas—Activity Editor

Please welcome them to our community. We now have representatives from the following countries—Albania, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Canary Islands, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Israel, Malawi, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, U.A.E., United Kingdom, United States, Wales and Zimbabwe. 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 worldwide audience. If you are currently reading Whispers, please consider submitting a poem for consideration for publication. Click on the bright blue “Submission Guidelines” on the right side of the main page for guidelines.  Email submissions to Karen at  karenoleary1956@gmail.com  Thank you.

Note--Ads due for the October column by September 25

ANNOUNCEMENTS—

Robert P. Hansen thanks those of you who nominated his science fiction novel Please Don’t Eat the Penguins on Kindle Scout. Unfortunately, they decided not to publish it so he has done so himself. He has also published the first book of his new series, Aftermath, which is a sequel to his Angus the Mage fantasy series. For links to online retailers, visit his blog at: rphansenauthorpoet.wordpress.com

Niranjan Navalgund's book, The Lively Library & An Unlikely Romance is all set to be launched on July 9. The book will be available on Amazon.com. You can follow the page here: www.facebook.com/thelivelylibrary

Langley Shazor is now a columnist for The Loafer Magazine, a local arts and events publication.  His column, The Casual Word, features his poetry and other original works. It can be found at theloaferonline.com. 

Raamesh Gowri Raghavan and other members of IN haiku Mumbai invite everyone to view their new blog https://cafehaiku.wordpress.com/. Your comments will be encouraging.

Cindy M. Hutchings’ chapbook, Tree Talk, written to a tree, published by MoonPath Press, includes 42 poems paired with 42 unique and beautiful tree images. A poem and photo from the book are at: http://moonpathpress.com/CindyHutchings.htm

Michael Lee Johnson chief editor and Ken Allan Dronsfield co-editor are excited about the release of a new poetry book shaking the poetry world apart, 53 professional poets on the rise, Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, now available on Amazon.com and Europe.  Buy now: 

https://www.createspace.com/6126977
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1530456762

Marcus E. Omer has published his 3rd Poetry Book entitled Facing the World With Chuckles & Sighs. The book has 132 pages, and as the title indicates, has two distinct sections. The humor we find in this life and the more serious side. The Poetry Book may be found at Lulu.com.  

Jack Horne announces the release of his second poetry collection, Living, Loving & Legends. This book is currently available from eTreasuresPublishing.com or Amazon, price £2.10/$2.99 http://jackhorne.blogspot.co.uk

John W. Williams has a new chapbook called A Cup of Warm Words for your enjoyment.  The book includes 82 poems on love, the art of living, nature, spiritual verse, and philosophy.  An autographed issue is available for $8 including postage and handling by contacting him at PO Box 326, Martin, GA 30557

Angelee Deodhar's, Journeys 2015, An Anthology of International Haibun, with 145 haibun by 31 poets of international repute, is available from Amazon.com.

For ordering details, here: http://www.amazon.com/Journeys-2015-Anthology-International-Haibun/dp/1515359875 or contact Angelee at angeleedeodhar@gmail.com

Scott Thomas Outlar runs the site 17Numa where links to his published poetry, essays, and fiction can be found. The site also features a page devoted to literary publications which currently has nearly 150 venues listed. The blog’s page at 17Numa has links to the personal sites of other writers and artists, and has been designed with the hope that artists from all fields will check out and be inspired by the work of their contemporaries.

Beth Winchcombe announces her novel, For LOVE of Maria: A compelling love story. This is currently available in paperback on Amazon.co.uk, also Amazon.com priced at £7-99p. Kindle version to download for just £2-00p. Published by Diadem Books, Author name Beth Richards.

Paul Callus published his first ebook of poetry called Meander in December 2014. It is a collection of 86 poems and songs which should appeal to those who read poetry for pleasure and relaxation. It is available at Amazon.

Marianne Szlyk has released a new chapbook, Listening to Electric Cambodia Looking Up at Trees at Heaven, through Kind of a Hurricane Press' Barometric Pressures Authors Series. You may download the chapbook for free at this site: http://barometricpressures.blogspot.com/2014/10/listening-to-electric-cambodia-looking.html Thank you.

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 karenoleary1956@gmail.com

PUBLICATION/CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES—

Peggy Dugan French’s print publication, Shemom, is always looking for new writers.  Please send poems or haiku to pdfrench@cox.net for consideration. 

Marianne Szlyk is always looking for poems and flash fiction inspired by music, art, and nature for her blog-zine, The Song Is....  Any length is fine, and previously published poems are as well.  Just be sure that you have the rights to your poem.  Please send your work to thesongis@gmail.com .  For more information, see this link: http://thesongis.blogspot.com/

Maurice J. Reynolds would like to share that Creative Inspirations, an email poetry publication, is accepting poetry submissions for publication. This publication offers an interview column, creative activities, information and advertisement, writer’s comments, good poetry, and more. Guidelines and subscription information for two first class postage stamps (To God be the Glory! Publications P.O. Box 19051 Kalamazoo, MI 49019). You can also go to: www.tgbtgpublictions.com for more information.

ayaz daryl nielsen's print publication bear creek haiku is always open for postal submissions, mail poetry to bear creek haiku, PO Box 596, Longmont, CO 80502, USA, 11 lines and less, include SASE. Can be contacted at darylayaz@me.com, blog site is bearcreekhaiku.blogspot.com.

David Fox, editor of The Poet's Art, is looking for family-friendly poems.  U.S. and foreign contributors can send as many poems that will fit on one page.  Send poems to: David Fox, 171 Silverleaf Lane, Islandia NY 11749 or contact him by email for any questions ipoetdavid2@gmail.com  I can only put out my print journal twice a year, $8 one issue, $22 for a 3 issue subscription. A high price to pay, I know, but am still mostly a not-for-profit magazine. I am keeping the price for $10 an issue for international subscribers.

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. Visit Old Mountain Press' eBook site at http://www.oldmp.com/e-book 

Whispers is always looking for new writers to join our community.  Please send family friendly poems 20 lines or less karenoleary1956@gmail.com  Complete guidelines posted at the end of each month.  Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the site.

Activity Editor's Thoughts--By Michael Escoubas--United States

Dear Whispers’ Friends,

I like to write poetry because poetry gives me a way of expressing myself within the chaos of modern life. We poets have something to offer which can be read in seconds, yet, affect people for a lifetime.

Whispers allows so many people, worldwide, to form a community of blessings and hope through the medium of poetry. What an honor to be among an ever-growing family that has found refuge, acceptance, and opportunity through the common denominator of this journal.

What Will Bring Us Together?

It can begin with clouds*

     we share them

          we are all under them.

We sense their frailty

    we are made wet

          by their storms,

and strengthened when the sun

    sends its bright beams

         arcing in rainbows.

Michael Escoubas, Whispers’ Activity Editor

*“It can begin with clouds,” from Notes on the Assemblage, by Juan Felipe Herrera,

United States Poet Laureate.

A Done Deal--By Ndaba Sibanda--Saudi Arabia

A Done Deal

the view could be blurred by

roaring and furious mists over

high mountains and sharp rocks

the road could be filled with thorns

and bottomless potholes and explosives

like an eagle—Thembani---soars beyond

the hurdles and prevailing situation around him

like an eagle he knows that as he soars the snakes

he is clutching in his fist are a done and defeated deal

like one Isaac he is prospering in the face of adversities!

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".

After the Games--By Joyce I. Johnson--United States

After the Games

The Olympic games are ending.

Oh, what a show it's been,

With athletes losing gracefully

And gracious when they win.

Bringing honor to their countries,

Their families and their sports.

Behind the scenes they mingled

And listened to reports.

USA contestants are a wonder,

They have gobbled up the gold.

The tales of fearless athletes

Will be told and retold.

if only nations followed

The examples of their youth,

We'd solve our problems without war

And be winners in all truth.

Before the games in 2020

May the world find a lasting peace

And leaders who've learned lessons

And formed friendships such as these.

Joyce I. Johnson lives in the beautiful Skagit Valley of Washington State. She owns a small farm and rents her land to a bulb grower. She is surrounded by beauty in the spring from the tulips and daffodils that inspire much of her poetry. Joyce celebrated her 98th birthday in July of 2016.

The First Stone--By Dan Tharp----United States

The First Stone

My self-righteous indignation
is short lived

when I ponder the peril
of my own transgressions
precariously perched upon
the pedestal of pride.

Perhaps I shall find repentance
in the hour of recognition
of the reckoning awaiting us all.

May a kind hearted and gracious God
find room in His heart to grant us the gift
of repentance; the gift of forgiveness

to a sinful society, socially
adept to aberrant behavior. 

And, as was written by some ancient sage,
on a piece of parchment
later to become a small portion
of the biblical standard,

"let he who is without sin
cast the first stone.”

Dan Tharp is the author of four books of poetry, 3 of which are in chapbook form... Side by Side, Yielding Desire to Fate, A Season Made for Wondering and A Rose in the Briar Patch. Dan resides in Southern California.

Tanka--By Marilyn Fleming--United States

deep in the woods

my face in my hands

I speak to

the hollowed out tree—

my red heartwood bared

Bamboo Hut, May 2016

one red apple

clings to a naked branch

winter coming on

long after it’s over

still hanging by a thread

Cattails, May 2016

downward facing dog

in the shade of the plum—

picking season

I pull up the ladder

limbs resting for a bit

Gogoyshi, Monthly 2015

Marilyn Fleming was born and raised on a farm in Wisconsin. She has a special

interest in oriental forms of poetry. <marilynflemingpoet.wordpress.com>  

This is my last letter--By Jan Oskar Hansen--Portugal

This is my last letter

I have loved you   from the first time I saw you

Something about your eyes

And the kindness of your heart

You know if you can explain love there is none

You are going on a long journey

With your man and that is OK

And when you return I will not be here

I just want to tell you how much I love you

How much I enjoyed your breath

The aroma of your body when you’re teasing

Me with your youth and my old age

I did not even hope but took the nearness of you

As a dulcet dream unobtainable.

Love is a rainbow it does not tell you where it falls

Good bye my darling thinking of you

Has eased the burden of my later years

Jan Oskar Hansen is a published poet from Portugal.