Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 March 2002 — Page 39

The Muncie Times, March 7, 2002, page 39

POETRY CORNER

Images Grandad Worked in a flour mill In a slow, south Illinois town With red brick sidewalks, Making for perilous roller skating The mill whistle called the men And sent them home again. I see his floured image trudging home With pendulating lunch pail. And hear his porch-step yet, And screen door .creak. After supper he would sit m straight-backed rocker, Beside a cluttered window seat And read the evening news.

He held me there, when -I was holdable. I wondered at the fullness of his mustache, And his rarely given love. Years later, After he departed to the strains Of “Goin Home,” Grandmother lived Within her childish mind, And watched dead-eyed As butter melted in her coffee. At. six o’clock, without a fault. She must have heard the ghost, mill whistle. For she would mutter. “Time to get supper now'" Helen May-Wing Hoosier Prairie When summer wands bend grasses That grow on Hoosier Prairie, There are echoes of the native feet That crept beneath the parted blades,

Shoulders bent, with searching eye and listening ear. Deep-root grasses, tall as men, Were witness to the i-ed and then the white migration, Those who walked their way to western shores, Who trod a path past oaks and elms That cluster now around town squares. Sycamores and cottenwoods. Etching deep-green river course, Could tell in rings of history How t they testified to wmter: How they peered across the prairie To see the schooners rumbling west. Billowing white sails behind the oxen. Prairie flowers would tell their tale Of how the children ran and laughed Beside the wagons, gathering their arms full. Phlox, black-eyed Susans, shooting stars. Prairie lilies nodded over graves Of those not strong enough, And roses, wild and fragrant. • • Crept beneath the swelling grasses.

Wanted Men 1. The man w r ho tries to be the right example. 2. The man who has a passion for souls. 3. The man who is willing to say, “I was w r rong, I’m sorry.” 4. The man who will look squarely at temptation and say, “NO!” 5. The man who puts God’s business first. 6. The man who has a ready smile and a cheery “Helfo!” 7. The man who brings his children to church instead of sending them. 8. The man who gives his time, money and talent without thought of return. 9. The man who can see his own faults and confess them. 10. The man who will go the second mile without grumbling.

Clarence Motley & Friends

you should abide unpolluted nor touched by lies. Michael Edward Boykin Chosen You can’t lose grace for you never found it. Twas gifted to. you after the nails were pounded!

Daily Daily my cross of Jesus’ bore Daily mv spirit strengthened more. Daily my prayer on bended knee. Daily my grace and love of Thee. Michael Edward Boykin

Selected

Michael Edward Boykin

At Last When we cross over to glory, I’ll meet the Spirit of Truth. And thank Him for the Wisdom sent to guide me through. On the other side of Jordan, there in the promised land. I’ll bow before King Jesus and kiss His mighty hand.

The Muncie Times retains the right to edit all materials submitted for publication. But because of the unique nature of poetry, we have suspended this rule for “Poet's Corner." African American poets often use the vernacular of the p contemporary black experience. |! Their work is sometimes saturated

Hoosier Prairie, standing yet in Indiana, Witness to our early yearnings. Reminds us of our westward rambling, Recalls the search for promised land, Gross green each spring. Succumbs to autumns flaming brand, Evolves as rising Phoenix, As yet the human spirit. Helen May-Wing The Ten Most

ril wash the feet, with tears. that walked this earthly path. . When we cross over glory Peace-rich, with God, at last.

Michael Edward Boykin Watching God’s Omnipresent Eyes, in the view of Truth, should supervise rules in which

with the language, rhythm and ' | * ! semantics of the streets. This j| language is the instrument, without . . which they cannot play their songs. Is At The Muncie Times, we will not try to stifle creativity. However, blatantly offensive, racists or sexist materials will not be printed, of course, and we do reserve the right to choose which works to publish.