Creative expressions is a space for local poets and writers to share their work. Creative expressions is edited by Richard Schmidt and Diana Liebe. For information or to submit your original work, e-mail rvschmidt2@gmail.com.
New Orleans Winter, 1967
By Cindy Chatham
February rain, molten silver, washes sloping gray streets
Peels old forest-green shuttered doorways…contented
People pass my screen door, their footsteps muffled on wet puddled bricks
Voices bounce off rain-strands…tinkle and float away past other doorways
Splashes of small meanings, infinitely recurring
below age-veined steps sitting immobile
with silent pillar guards
splotches of old and still older memory
drop gentle upon the streets of the Quarter
small-citysongs hum with rainbusy chords; cozy, jazzy..
comfortable quick-speckled notes carry familiar smells
of damp sweatshirts, wet wool, synthetic shiny umbrellas
and coffee
blue-grey cityrain colors mix, soften and blur
blending us together, sensing our common humanity
remembering other times in rain.
A Winter Morning
By Jaka
Snow-encrusted branches
of towering gray pines
thaw in the morning light.
Microcosms of isolated rain,
glittering drops
of sun-teared snow.
An early morning blessing
anointing the ground below.
I step beneath to be included.
Moving Toward the Dark Season
By Lourdes Thuesen
Already, Lady,
Your sheen appears
emerald, Irish, deep and forest
from the magic fountain
in timelessness so sweet:
A gentle comforting touch
as winter’s brows
begin to knit and crease
A caress of mother patience
against the coming chill and dark
a whisper of strength
a blessing of endurance
a promise of the Earth’s true turning
a reminder
that we many children
shall survive the storms
again.
