Poetry

Transformation
by Connie Sidote

Inside of me resides a princess
hair flowing, golden like the sun
She's kind, she's gentle
She sets the mood for fun
She laughs at what is funny
She tries and succeeds in her soul
to just be herself
and that is simply... enough
The princess is not fancy
she bares no gold, no shimmer
She sits with her back to Mother Earth
where much of her true immenities exist.
She is comfort to children, she ages
with grace
not a trace of artificial mask does she show upon her face
She smiles at true companions, holding hands is what she dreams of,
Being at peace with a prince that bares
no judgement,
that sees beauty
beyond imagination...straight to the core of her heart...and her soul
Inside of me there is a princess waiting to be found...
Blessed Guides those of you who surround me and
play music in my soul
assure me that this princess is me...
transforming and understanding that
humanity is temporary and eternal happiness is infinitely divine...
So ever grateful am I that I have found this princess in my soul

Zucchini Bread
– for Gladys
Anonymous

you measured everything
even the nuts and raisins rolled
in flour
to keep from dropping to the bottom
the zucchini shredded to perfect
consistency
just throw everything in I advised
that looks like a teaspoon
how much vanilla?
(haphazardly dropping the capfuls in)
pre-heat the oven? how long?
it seems hot when I stick my head in
raise the racks you instructed
and the pans– two in the front,
one in the back
I closed it carefully, sealing its fate
we read poems while it began to rise
the aroma permeating our nostrils
steam covering the glass oven door
cautiously, we peered inside
into the crust you stuck the toothpick
making sure it came out dry
later, we ate greedily
the taste of words lost
on our tongues
what was that extra flavor? we
wondered
I say it was the muse
we forgot to measure

Haiku
by Gerald Starlight, Roosevelt Island

Golden sun streaming,
Estuaries awaken
Reflections of dawn.