Christmas joy

Ingredients:
1/2 cup hugs
4 tsp kisses
2 cups smiles
4 cups love
1 cup special holiday cheer
1/2 cup peace on earth
3 tsp Christmas spirit
2 cups goodwill toward man
1 sprig of mistletoe
1 medium-size bag of Christmas snowflakes (the regular kind won’t do!)

Method:
Mix hugs, kisses, smiles and love until consistent. Blend in holiday cheer, peace on earth, Christmas spirit and the good will toward men. Use the mixture to fill a large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime. (It never goes bad!) Serve as desired under mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with special Christmas snowflakes. It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas carols and family get-togethers. Serves to one and all.

Submitted by Dale Brock, Fulda

Contentment

We sit at the kitchen table, my friend and I,
sipping Metaxa Brandy.
Her kitchen is small
table right by the door, next to the window.

Our conversation is easy,
spaced like sips of Metaxa Brandy
slowly savored.

Her cat appears in the doorway
back arched, eyes suspicious,
inquiring at my intrusion.

He sniffs, steps softly, slowly
into the room until in recognition
he purrs against me.

Like the cat and me, trust and friendship
sniffs, steps, pulls back, until curled together
we purr our contentment
of satisfied discovery.

Muriel Owen, West St. Paul

Afternoon moments

Light diffused through a gray-clouded sky,
The news of Iraq today mentions many who die.
Hopes for the future of peace seem elusive at times,
If only men would lay down their arms, diffuse the bombs and seek reconciliations.

Our world needs hope, calm and love between nations.
What can we do? Where can we go?
Prayer is the answer to soothe angry hearts.
The light of the world diffused through gray clouds,
reminds us again to look to the One
who can strengthen our efforts and starts.

Pat Kirchoffner, Roseville

Changes

Life today has changed somewhat -
Where once I stood tall, now I squat,
Where once I knew of what I spoke,
Now I deal with memory choke.
Piercing eyes that once discerned
All the script by which I learned
Now peer through thickened lens.
And the pins
That held together all my youth
Have loosened as has my tooth.
But, still I hear the songs of birds
And the melody of words.
The joys of life still come to me
If only in my memory.

Hope Abrams, St. Paul

Minnesota winter

In the cool, dark
hiding place,
the onions grow.

Spring is an
impossible secret;
the onions know.

Sharon Sawyer, St. Paul

Elections

The elections are over,
The “hoop la” is gone.
Now the winners have to produce,
The work they promised would be done.
Let’s all bury our hatchets,
And roll up our sleeves,
And make our city, country and state,
What it should be.
It won’t happen overnight,
One cannot do it alone.
But if we quit fighting personalities,
This city, country and state are worth working for.
As we happen to be all three.

Vienna L. Hobrle, Hibbing

The old packrat

Keep them! Please don’t give them away.
Books and magazines that someone should read.
Address labels enough till the end of time.
All those outgrown clothes I know I’ll need.
Junk mail in the mailbox each day.
Knick-knacks - who gave them to me?
The shelves are so crowded
They’re impossible to see.
Oh help! I’m an old packrat.

Doris E. Carlson, Wadena