April is National Poetry Month. The Hays Public Library annual poetry contest winners included Carrie Nassif,  first place for her poem “Carrying On” and

Roberta Brewer was the runner up for her poem “Gifting.” The two winning entries are below.

Carrying On: Another Domestic Violent Nightmare by Carrie Nassif

We were hiding together in the dirt-crusted cellar,
Death, the girl, and I
when he asked me what kind of world it was I lived in
and opened a glowing orange portal-
a gaping square that started waist-high
to show me his.
He was just a small boy in sepia-tones handing out pills
so wide-eyed, I clambered in
my knees awkwardly bent up to cross into the threshold
he’d opened
thigh-high.
There his eyes flashed black-light backlit
all opposite and wrong
and I kissed his gleaming cheek anyhow-
drawing away with a shock:
gritty lips,
the smell of dark moist earth.
Numb, I silently slipped back over the highlightered outline
of his arbitrary door
from before
and he
he was sucked away by the howling storm
ofmyleaving.
Turning my back
I hunkered down again in the cellar
huddled over
to cover
the other
her baby-fat-toddler-body cradled in my arms
till it was safe again
at the siren’s end
when we tromped to the front yard
struggling with her limp sweltering weight clasping me grimly
tall cold backyard grass dampening my bare legs
and surveyed the damage
we’d have to pretend wasn’t there.

 

Gifting by Roberta Brewern

When I discard this earthen cloak of clay
That’s clad my restless spirit day by day,
Please lay it not to rest in dismal tomb
Reflecting darkness, death and lifeless gloom-
But set it free to life; to live once more
That I might soar in peace through heaven’s door.
Give my eyes to one who seeks for light
What joy to grant another gift of sight!
Give heart to one who has more love to share
And heartbeat of mankind might be his fare.
Give cells and skin and bones to meet such need
As length and quality of life therewith exceed.
If ashes then be scattered o’er the earth,
Enriching flowers, giving plants new birth
You’ll gift my soul and set my spirit free
As one who finds life’s end sweet ecstasy.

I am relating this message, not a song, not a psalm,
rather a word to encourage any who might be inclined
to be a donor, to make it known now. If one life could
be prolonged or enriched because of this message it
would be a joyous thing!