Garland Ray Wallace Poetry - Non-NCTC Students, and/or Non-professional Writers Residing in Texas or Oklahoma.................................................pages

FIRST PRIZE

Ok, so I have twelve slices of bread which makes four sandwiches and as many pieces of toast

smeared with peanut butter that takes care of breakfast and lunch.

The half tank of gas remaining will cover two shifts going thirty-five miles each way which still leaves two more-

Inventory

Andrea deFreitas

mom’s silver charm bracelet will have to be sold to get me to and from work those last couple times. It won’t be worn by the third generation now, but, needs must.

My seven Harry Potter books will buy a box of spaghetti & jar of sauce, plus eight hot dogs and as many buns will see us through ‘til Friday.

In Honor of the One Who Saved Me

Barbara Curtis

I looked for Your dark side The one that betrays me The one that runs away from me The one that hurts me and lashes and fights and punishes me. I looked for the side that would make fun of me The one that would cheat on me, go behind my back on me The one that would tear me apart in anger Call me names and point out my every insecurity. I looked for the side that would take from me The one that looks out for number one, not me The one that holds all my faults and never forgets. I looked for the side that rather be alone than with me The one that holds secrets and lies to me The one that takes all my trust and destroys it Takes all my hope and crushes it.

But I couldn’t find it.

You had no lies to hide. No bitterness to divide us. You had no weapon formed in Your heart to hurt me. You had no desire to leave me. Nothing in You but to cleave to me. You had no selfish plan to take from me. No. You only wanted to give to me. You had no weak moments of calling out my failures in disgust. No tendency to give the cold shoulder or break my trust. I looked for Your dark side but all I could find Is no shadow or turning, nothing but light. Light pure and radiant, outshining all. Innocence, blamelessness, no sign of the fall.

I thought You were like me, a heart so black. That thought brought me fear. I wanted to turn back. Away from the One who knew me so well But could crush all my hope and send me to hell. But now I know I’m the leper. One touch from You and I’m clean. Your light destroys my darkness You are like nothing I’ve seen.

Please forgive all my doubt, my looking about For a side of You that doesn’t exist. I fall at Your feet, in worshipful song May my heart not forget nor walk in the mist. You are my King, the One that I serve With gladness and thanks For getting nothing I deserve.

Finding Myself

Cindy Brandt

In the Mere existence of it all I find myself Watching, wondering and waiting for that magical moment to happen When life once again makes perfect sense and nothing is strange anymore I often ask myself does this place exists in this crazy mixed up world I often question my decisions and plans only to be more frustrated and scared That I will choose the wrong ones Bus as I look back on my journey I am not where I use to be I still have mountains to climb But each new day brings an added hope and strength I did not know I had For without this journey I may have never known what a strong woman I am And I am becoming I fight my battles in a new way, I embrace the new challenges each new day brings my way I find peace at the end of the day So when tomorrow comes and brings me life I say Bring it on I am not where I was yesterday and today’s challenges will only make me stronger For I am finding myself again in a whole new way.