Vineyard of Emotion

by Dana Van Wie

Rows of gnarled vines.

Cordon arms reach.

A rich, whispering canopy.

Clustered jewel orbs.

Amethyst and peridot.

Sensuous nectar globes.

Entwined, entangled, confuse, confound

Cascading droplets.

Opals and diamonds.

Welling deep hurt.

Acrid cloak engulfs.

Sharp intense stabs.

Hurtful sting of words.

Take a swig

By Dana Van Wie

Go ahead, take a swig.

Do you know me?

I am much more

Think twice before you do.

I ‘m:

A child’s deep red cherry Koolaid.

Herbal tea with which you relax.

Where dancing noodles simmer.

Can you take a guess who I am?

I flow:

Past dense cool forests.  

Over boulders I polish smooth.

Through jagged, ancient ravines.

Do you have a clue who I am?

I flow:

Through pipes of excrement.

Over fields of trash and waste.

Past monstrous factories spewing.

I’m not quite what you think.

I ‘m:

Your bathed dog’s soap filled with grime.

The lead and fuel from fishing.

Runoff from a farmer’s cattle barn.

These are parts of what make me.

Now you know my history.

I’m transparent and oh so clear.

Are you thirsty? Do you need a drink?

Go ahead and take a swig.

Java High

by Dana Van Wie

High-pitched whirling grind.

Dark mahogany fills the carafe.

Ahh! The rich, pungent aroma.

Anticipation makes me tremble for

Nectar I crave.

I fill my mug- Java, cup-o-joe.

A splash of ivory

Swirls with chestnut.

A warm velvet flow.

I take a sip.

Arrgh! Yuk!!!

Cleaning fluid! turpentine!

Spewing into the sink.

What to do? What to do?

My precious brew is tainted!

No time. Need my fix.

Grab my purse, bag, mug

Rush out the door.

I water the bush.

The World at Three

by Dana Van Wie

Your devoted arms cuddle his small warm body.

Enough! There's a world to explore.

Study industrious ants on the sandy patio.

A caterpillar munches a tasty leaf.

Little fingers reach to grab. Stop!

Sound in the distance, an uneven Ppp p pp.

He searches the horizon for...

There it creeps into view, emerald green.

Oooh! A tractor.

Tumble through the weedy jungle.

He must get a better look.

But what's that? The saffron petals snatch his fancy.

He trots right back, prize in hand.

Stubby hands award you

Dandelions.

Jack

Jack

By Dana Van Wie

My life is short

So I relish the invigorating rays.

They transform me,

Cool, deep green to toasty, dark orange.

Friends, family and I

Grow in peace, undisturbed.

Interrupted by brief visits.

A prowling farm cat,

Hungry, munching beetles,

Monotonously chattering crows.

 Days grow short.

Our plot is invaded.

You don’t belong.

You have no respect.

Ripping us from our umbilical cords.

Trampling our fronds.

Smashing our dead and dying.

Yet some cry, “Pick me! Pick me!”

Quiet! Do you not know your fate?

Baked and eaten. Slashed and carved.

My choices are none

I pray to quietly fade, die of old age.

Back to the earth

Then I can once again

Be born.