Motivational Image

A cartoon image rendering
a small stick figure straining
forward, attempting resurrection
reaching for the end post
bound by a rubber band, labeled
Destructive Self Views
I see us, our disease, gradual
convalescence, the disguise 
we so often wear in public
We have accepted our fate
and so are resigned to the bird
pecking at our Promethean side
We are the tiny scrambling toon
waving thin-line arms
not looking viewers in the eye.

JD DeHart

DeHart is a writer and teacher from Tennessee. 
His blog is spinrockreader.blogspot.com

After the Fact

A minister's son married
a deacon's daughter
after a long courtship.

It was difficult at times
doing everything right
but the young couple 

saved themselves
for the wedding night
when the groom 

sat on the bed 
and watched his bride 
carefully undress,

finally removing
the bra he never
knew was padded.

Donal Mahoney
donalmahoney@charter.net
Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He has had poems published Ancient Heart Magazine and other publications in the United State, Europe, Asia and Africa.