Jen (a haiku)

by Lindsay McCown

she likes green tea, straight
no sugar, no splenda, nope
she loves gangsta rap

large guns and street drugs
she loves a nice pair of pants
soft cardigans, too

Winter Ice

Tree branches snap when the rain
begins to freeze,
tearing down power lines,
and leaving us all in the dark.

Empty aisles from lack of supplies,
unexpected changes can cause
people to lose their minds.

Drivers grit their teeth and forget
to breathe as brakes lock up on icy streets.
Small children laughing and suspended
against the back seats.

Hot tea clutched and close to lips,
staring out of a third floor sliding door.
The sky glowed orange at night
from outlying neighborhoods
with working street lights.

Getting to Know Elaine (My grandma)

As she watched her father go,
she was left alone
with a decision that had
to be made. Breathing
is artificial living
when you're attached
to machines.

And she misses her aunt
everyday, a woman
that shares her name.
Old mysteries were solved
when she taught her niece
how to read.

Drum beats, trumpet blasts,
and violin whines,
when listening to music
she never misses a sound.

She can often be found
sitting on a cushioned bar stool
reading stories of fictional lives,
but hers is much more interesting.
And I'm glad I asked.

Shout It in the Streets (portions taken from the book of Proverbs)

You say issues are black and white, wrong and right,
but despite these claims,
I think I'll stay in the gray where you have to ask questions,
think, and learn how to pray about issues in politics and what's okay.

I'll pray for wisdom and understanding like in Proverbs 1:2,
and when I get some, you know what I'll do?
I'll shout it in the streets until I turn black and blue.

How long will you fools hate knowledge and the pursuit of truth?
No questions even asked before leaving the voter's booth.
Casting votes based on your parents' and pastor's beliefs,
allowing a politician to steal your vote like a thief
because you didn't stop to think.

You say, "But I'm a Christian, I don't have much of a choice.
If I vote democrat then I've lost my voice and become pro-choice?"
No. Christians, you have it all wrong and your reasoning
is why this thinking as gone on so long.

You say, "If you support the Democrats you also support abortion,"
but your only listening to a portion of the issue.
Somewhere in your thinking there lies some distortion.
Even if abortion became illegalized, this is what you must realize,
laws don't change hearts, God does and we also play a part.
Women will always kill unwanted children,
it's just the nature of the heart,
but instead of by a doctor, they'll be performed like before,
by deadbeats with coat hangers in back alley streets.

Stop thinking that you will save the nation from eternal damnation
by voting for someone because they came and spoke to your congregation.
Your faith-based agenda will not save anyone.
Souls will be saved when you walk with Christ and share his Word head-on.

Get wisdom, get understanding, don't forget what your told.
It's more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
Sometimes I have to agree, it might be better not to see,
but if your blind, than you can't be free.