Read Poem: AVENUE HOCHE, by Peter Bové

The coffee is kicking in-what a rush
A very old lady crosses Avenue Hoche
The noble looking Italian one
Sips her Badoit avec citron

I am… You are… They are
A simple moment in a day of sun
Composed in part by
A series of low hissing sounds

A lean smart Parisian laughs at my first French joke
Actually, an American joke told in French
Either way, we laugh, when
My heart leaps suddenly at the smile of
A young Basque vision of beauty

The waiter has seen it a thousand times
“I will get the check Monsieur”
He takes my empty cup
Then melts into the café

I sit still and watch her olive skin expand
With each of her tiny enormous breaths
Velvet by sight… Translucent in the sun…
Her young carefree boyfriend notices my gaze

He stares back at me blankly
I wonder of the moment he will realize what they were
He will be, thirty-three, perhaps
He will sit at this very table, in this very café

He will remember her smile, her soft skin
The way she walked, talked and touched him
He will mourn the memory itself
This fleeting remembrance of his gift from God

As the voitures of the future float quietly by, he will think of me
The way I looked into their world
My gaze into the future that, he now holds as his life
He will know the meaning of my face

Their moment… My dream

A magnificent discovery will overcome him
As he sips my coffee
Puffing my cigar he will think of me, as me, as himself
Yet of her

Time will melt into place
His life will become my face
For the waiter who interrupts his thoughts
On this Saturday afternoon on Avenue Hoche

Read Poem: CHASING DEATH, by Bernard Mersier

Gentle cold words warm my soul, chasing your clammy bones.

Death, you don’t know how much I love you, wishing you would love me.

You gave me a world of orgasms I could handle,

Every emotion expressed as I’m manhandled.

Death, you don’t know how much I love you, wishing you would love me.

You tease me with your allure.

Eyes closed, heart froze, death, you almost took my soul.

You move in and out of my life, silent as my shadow.

My heart leapt when you cuddled me under your cloak,

Naively, I thought it was love, not seeing it was a joke.

Death, you don’t know how much I love you.

But now, I’m about to make you appreciate why you should’ve loved me,

Moving on to a greener pasture,

Realizing you only wanted my emotions resting in the hereafter.

Death, my dear, death…

Life could have been better if you accepted “Us” instead of “Self.”

Read Poem: I’ve fallen in love with a man., by Rozalia Kieliszkiewicz

I’ve fallen in love with a man that shows up with a mask to his face, To the world in which I know within he cannot relate.

I love as thoughts of him manipulate, and I’m drawn by his spells and mighty acts of faith.

I await for his truth to match his heart space, as the lies he tells, the fears we both mirror its space.

I fall and seek within, building my strength, aligning my truth and worth with my soul’s free grace.

But his psychic touch on my skin does not break, and I weep as I crave his sweet embrace.

Power, Control, takes hold of his movements, but I know the truth as our souls touch each night, setting his walls with the sun as it reveals the darkness.

I lie with my love in this fabricated world that spiritually distorts our made-up realities.
Which one is real with pure intentions that I seek? I leave that up to his mask, as it is up to him to reveal its clarity.

Deep within, I go to be the example he fears most, shining light on the masks and the many faces I see in me.

I face myself and shed all that is not, showing up bare to the world with all skeletons I got.

I am falling in love with myself, Queen of Wands, with no mask to my face, as I reveal myself empowered, no man, with reliance on my faith.

Read Poem: The Song Line, by Mark Mc Quown

I course through my soul looking
for a shape that I can see
and thus hold on to.

A cello in the background sings
a soulful counter to my search.

A man speaks….Indian
and chants a vibration deep
into the innermost space of my soul.

Well water drops from above and move
down my face as my spirit cleaves
my form and the melody enters
and I hear it.

I….am it.

I linger waiting speechless as the tune
fills and overflows me and now
I am addicted to the sweet harmony which
plays the counterpoint in my life.

Read Poem: Reaching for you, by Freddy Romm

My dream, my hope are not forever,
We can’t, we can’t be always together.
My love, my feeling, all my soul
Forbidden are once.
Just say: why fight for the love remaining?
Just say: why are we so much self-paining
If no chance, we have no chance?

Love is the miracle we are needing,
The only rescue when heart is bleeding.
But we do know – love vanishes once, no trace.
Just say – why, how can, do we guess it
In this infinite and sweet pain blessed
That I am yours, and you are mine – the only in space?

You see – so long we have had to wander,
Across worlds foggy too strange to wonder
To see one other just one time – and never again.
The fate, the space and the time – together,
They command us: stop your struggle forever!
And leave your hope! And do not complain!

Love lost – always in the world around.
No voice – you leave and are never found.
My wish is to revive our love, take away from death!
My love! I am seeking for you whenever!
My love! I am reaching for you wherever!
Whenever and wherever I can live, mind and breath!

My planet flies in the space alone
We cannot see its carriage unknown
The duty and the love each day disturb us and call.
That’s why I am reaching for you anywhere,
Always I am reaching for you forever.
I find you once! Through so strange time, space, and through all!

Read Poem: MASKED, by Trice Jackson

Hot night September
New Orleans
Party in the ballroom
Feeling 1940’s
Split running up my side
Skin glittering in the light
Body feeling vibrant
Scent of my perfume
Enticing the natural high
We both masked
We locked eyes
My body screamed out
Your soul reached out
We lock hands
They were silky
Set off a chain reaction
You whisper in my ear
Took me to ecstasy
High off your whisper
Enjoying this mystery
The night is young
Let’s get away
Go play
Play on Bourbon St
Block the world out
You and me make magic
Action for a memory
Memories that take me
Back to the mask
Never wanna take it off
Never wanna end
This moment
For a lifetime
No ends
Masked

Read Poem: MOON LANDING PLUS FIFTY, by G. L. Helm

I didn’t see the moon landing.
The whole world watched, but I did not.
Billions saw the first human steps on another world.
I did not.
I saw Michele’s eyes,
I held her close,
I tasted her lips,
I stroked her hair.
In the front room they watched
“One small step…”
History.
In the other room I gazed fifty years into my future.
Michele.

Read Poem: YOU USED TO MAKE ME HAPPY, by Kim Farris

When I was lonely or blue

You helped me be more social

When I was shy or insecure

I felt I was the life of the party

When you were by my side

But then you turned on me

You tricked me

I thought I was happy

So you led me on

Until I was sad again

Lonely again

So I wanted more of you

To give me that elated feeling

And you were there

But instead you embarrassed me

Made me say things I’d never say

Do things I’d never do

And worst of all

Lose my memory

I would wake in shame

And full of remorse

I’ve had enough of you

You don’t tempt me anymore

The line is crossed

And you are cut off

I am going to live

A happy life

Sober