A single leaf,
small, fragile,
fell.
Brown and crisp,
it lay lifeless.
A single hand,
wrinkled, aged,
crept.
Slowly it came
and rested.
The wind blew,
whistling through
the branches.
Calm settled on
the land.
Life fled.
Copyright 1995 Anita Hames
Black silk next to white tafetta
I gaze at the contrasting colors
My mind caresses the two as one
They are a perfect match and yet...
Somehow they are torn apart
Kept apart by invisible boundaries
Separated by a slight tug
White tafetta falls to the floor
Crumpled, helpless, yearning
Alone and pale--blank
Searching for the silk that will bring life
Black silk taken away
Fluttering in the draft of a closed door
Hopeless to escape the dark recesses of a closed room
The darkness shadows the white tafetta
Leaves it looking gray, uappealing
Light hides the black silk
Forces it out of sight
Black silk and white tafetta
I gaze at them each
On opposite sides of the room
My mind caresses the two and they remain apart
They are a perfect match and yet...
Copyright 1996 Anita Hames
Hobbies My Words Passport
O, Patience;
I wait for thee with undying love.
Forever will I wait.
No complaint
Shall fall from my eyes.
I'll sit upon the green hills
Or I'll sit upon the ragged boulder.
My heart cries out for my love.
When you return I will be much older.
O, Patience;
Such a sweet name.
Do you live up to it?
I should love you just the same
If you were like Mary,
Mary quite contrary.
You are beautiful like the sky.
You bring joy and laughter;
Patience flees when you cry.
What follows this sad home?
Tell me they name--Salome.
O, Patience;
My love has come.
I waited;
It came.
Through tears and laughter,
joy, and pain.
You went through the same.
With Patience, love came.
Copyright 1991 Anita Hames