SHIPWRECKED

Laura J. Bobrow

Brodie Herndon Memorial 1st HM

Those tracks once led you to my door.

Your footsteps made an ardent trail

upon the sand, along the shore.    

Unlike the loves I’d known before

we set forth on a gallant sail.

Those tracks once led you to my door.

I was the boat and you the oar

in our aquatic fairy tale

upon the sand, along the shore.  

You strode, a mighty commodore

unhindered by a sudden gale.

Those tracks once led you to my door.

I listened to the ocean’s roar

not dreaming love could ever fail

upon the sand, along the shore.  

The sea rushed in and then ... no more.

Who could have guessed they’d be so frail,

those tracks which led you to my door

upon the sand, along the shore.  

BETRAYED

Laura J. Bobrow

Loretta Dunn Hall Memorial 2nd HM

Mother dragged me by the arm in her eagerness,

past the empty porch swing.

Thrust through the door to the gloomy vestibule

I peered into the ancient house.

"Where is my sister?" Mother called.

"Where’s my best girl?"

The door clicked shut.

We were trapped inside.

I gathered courage, raised my eyes

up from the worn buff carpet,

up past wainscoting.

A head jutted from the wall. 

Its mouth was pursed in a futile gasp for air.

Its nose was black leather.  Forked antlers

which once gathered stems of sunlight

now caught only dust and mold.

Aunt Annie, keeper of corpses, hurried to us. 

She smelled of lilac and dried grass.

Spots of color deepened on her cheeks. 

"Ahhh...  yes,” she said

She wiped her hands on her apron.

Then she reached for me. 

"Just look at you. 

I believe you have grown."

I tried to hide my legs

which had betrayed me.

SUBPOENA

Laura J. Bobrow

Handy Andy Prize, 3rd Prize

An Italian once slapped a subpoena

on a visiting laughing hyoena.

“What you do when at home,

is forbidden in Rome!

Take your paws off of that signoroena.”