Twinkle, Twinkle Little Dream

By Heather Duncan &
Wayne Cook

Never thought I'd stand before
Never thought I could get over
A wall is just a stepping stone
A helping hand, I’m not alone
Another hand took my own
Lifted me past the great unknown
Suddenly, I could see my star
Now my heart can dream afar

Children pray and Heaven hears
Dreaming helps relieve our fears
It only takes one candle light
To pierce the darkness of the night
The past is gone forever gone
Tomorrow may not ever come
Today we have few short hours
My wish is that you find your power

Twinkle, twinkle, little dream
Never mind what the world thinks,
Reach for all the stars you see
Renew your soul, when you dream
Twinkle, twinkle eager dream
Close your eyes, pray to keep
Wish by distant starry frames
Guide us to our candle's flame

Jamie's Garden

By Wayne Cook

Once upon a faerie-tale,
My sister and I, plotting,
Squirmed into a looking glass,
All to escape our chores,
And perhaps penmanship from class,
Found ourselves in Jamie’s garden,
Amongst faeries and blooms
The fragrance at once intoxicating
And convenient for a hot Saturday noon!
What once was cold Indian tea,
Became a potion for pretending,
travel to exotic lands and social grace
laughter, forgetfulness,
And soliciting.
Soliciting! How’d that get in our tale?
Well, once in a great telling while,
Even a storyteller of great renown
Gets lost in words, my sweet child!
Since we had plenty of potion in sight,
And since were now so small,
We’d no reason to go home,
And oh,
The tale we’d tell was too darn tall!

Ansel, Why?

By Wayne Cook

The clouds drift upward,
Cutting the sun to gray
Burning orange cuts through a hole
A fire of heavenly play

Towering walls; fogged granite,
Fluted rock; earth’s own teeth
Reflections of the hills in the lake
Still waters like silvered leaves

Nearby the branches bend
Creaking wood; popping bark
Morning sun splashed mountains
Darkness shrouds the evergreen hearth

A waterfall plunges breathtakingly
Down the cliff in halos of light
Crashing to splinters of wet below
Fading sun sparkles into night

How could one life and two eyes see
How could one pair of hands do
How could we ever realize the power
Ansel, why did you leave us so soon

Perfume...On a Sunday Afternoon

Dedicated to Corina, whose photography inspires so much of my poetry....

Suddenly, just for a fraction of a second,
I could smell the perfume....
A whiff, like a Sunday afternoon,
Deep in Aunt Kathryn's garden,
Grass cooling my bare white ankles,
Bees buzzing in the heavily scented air,
Then, as quickly, as sensuous,
As had been the evocative thought,
The picture, the sound, the pleasure,
Sadly it was gone....so terribly sad,
Like rose sweetened love, evaporated.
Fluttering through sheer curtains,
Upon a bed of cooled linen sheets,
How wonderful a memory is....
In time, yes….lazily, leisurely,
It will return

I'm A Blue-eyed Son

I was winding down the highway
With a bag and a cheap guitar
Humming Pre Road Downs, kicking rocks
Looking for a passing car

Looked once at that bag
When I sat down to rest
A bedroll, some clothes
Sun settin' in the west

Some fool yelled from a shiny Deuce
New York's the other way!
I was too tired to get mad
So I just laughed and waved

What was I lookin' for ?
Was it a woman or a holy place
Was it Yellowstone or Yosemite
Or sweet Amazing Grace

Was it Yellowstone or Yosemite
Was it just my wander lust, runaway
Can't do that anymore
Leastwise, not where I live today!

I'm a blue-eyed son from Kansas
Product of my momma's eyes
Part of me's in the concrete landscape
Just a tow head boy, with dreamer's eyes

Peach Blossom

Dedicated to my friend, Corina....

This morning,
I peered from my window,
Hoping for a glimpse,
Health giving rays,
A smile from my old friend,
That golden sphere,
But!
My eyes fell on a bush,
The old peach tree in our garden,
Aglow with life and color,
Blossom after blossom,
Joyous sprouting of color,
pink petals,
Miracles of spring.
I saw them,
And my heart knew,
Life was to be renewed,
Surging happiness,
The plant raised its soul,
To thank its creator,
To give honor to Him,
Who had imbued it,
With such glory....
Just a humble plant,
No Lily of the field,
No Iris,
Or Morning Glory,
Just a peach tree.
But God has given,
Even the humble fruited peach,
honor this freshened morn!

Hibiscus World

Always when someone,
So pleasantly announces themselves,
I'm curious as a kitten to come calling,
Gently meowing,
Eyes aglow,
Tail flipping,
Padding softly at your door...
Is this your house?
I ask,
Wondering at the magic,
Of the image before my seeking,
Darting eyes?
It seems to tell a wonderland,
Alive,
Perhaps covered 'neath a Winter snow...
A fantasy in miniature,
This tiny world I see...
What is hiding 'round that corner,
A warm light beckoning me...
Pray tell!

Crisp And Silent

Photo used with permission by Stacy Hamilton

Dedicated to my friend, Renee

Crisp and silent the wood this morn,
Crystals by the millions form,
The birds huddle 'mongst the branches,
By the creek,
We draw a breath,
Early day,
Nature sleeps.
Romance spreads it's warmth and cheer,
Away go pressures and yesterday's fears,
The cold, the crunch, the white of snow,
The purity of God, and mercy flow.
I like it here mid the trees,
Somehow, I can hear His voice of Peace..
Still, small voice,
Awaiting my soul's inner choice,
That calm,
That cleansed mind,
While God waits with His so kind.

A Dear Friend

By Renee Dawson,


A dear friend took a walk with me,
Down our snowy winter lane.
We talked and laughed,
As we took our stroll,
Through all the pines of white.
The sparkling snow,
The chickadees,
Red berries over there...
Everywhere we looked,
The view was just as bright!
Our time together was not enough,
So much to see and do.
This friend of mine,
An Angel must be,
One of God's brightest shining lights!

Droplets

Splashes of color,
Sun light and wind,
Scattering droplets,
Ink that swims,
Patterns and chaos,
Imagination and skill,
Glowing with passion,
Exlosion, creative will