My Mother's Words
Jessica Marie Modzelewski

Don’t touch the oven,
You’ll get a bad burn.
Don’t repeat,
That bad word you heard.
Don’t run through the house,
With something sharp in your hand.
Don’t shoot your sister,
With a rubber band.
Don’t forget,
To say Thank You and Please,
And cover your mouth,
Whenever you sneeze.
Don’t talk to strangers
And get taken away,
And finish your chores,
Before you go out and play.
Don’t lie to me,
The consequence will be dire,
And never, ever,
Play with fire.

An Orange Balloon
Mary Ellen Papes

An orange balloon waits at the bottom of the stairs
Classical music wafts from the darkness
Three hearts beat in one bed resting
With silent footfall another day opens.

Classical music wafts from the darkness
A note is left instead of a kiss
With silent footfall another day opens
With memory of “Watch, Aunt Mary” echoing

A note is left instead of a kiss
A little boy sleeps now and not in the day
The visitor leaves with “Watch Aunt Mary” echoing
When am I not watching, Joseph, our joy.

A little boy sleeps now and not in the day
Diggers to fill, books to read,
When am I not watching, Joseph, our joy?
A child breathes life into aging bodies.

With diggers to fill, music to dance
Three hearts beat now in one bed resting
A child breathes life into aging bodies
And an orange balloon waits at the bottom of the stairs.