parched

parched

lillies raise leaves
silent plea to distant gods
please send us rain

scorched earth sends message of dust
only waves of heat reply

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 5-30-11

MONUMENT

MONUMENT

Let the guns cease to sound
and cannons cease their roar
So many lions, once caged and starved,
let them no longer find nourishment
on life's peace-filled shores.

Let all Bubble-heads surface
to breathe air fresh and clean.
Jar-heads, return home now,
live life fully, and dream!

And when there are no bombs dropping,
you Flyboys, come on home.
We will fly banners, sound trumpets,
now there is no need to roam.

Leathernecks, oh Leathernecks,
come face your new day
in a true monument to war's end
where in safety children play.

Let the night skies now shine
with every newly found star,
each one, a brave soul who once
fought long, fought hard, then
died, in some other man's war.

Let the sun proclaim vict'ry,
let the clouds witness joy,
let the rain come and cleanse us . . .
wash away pain, wash away guilt,
for all girls and boys.

Yes, let the guns cease,
let blood cease to spill.
Let our monument to war's end
be the last one we build.

If we just imagine it, it will.



Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-7-07

MEMORIAL ... COME HOME

MEMORIAL ... COME HOME

It's time to come home.
We'll not forget the price that you've paid,
nor the sacrifices you've made ...
It's time to come home.

We must lay down our arms, now.
We mus wake up, get out of this trance,
with open hearts, give peace a chance.
We must lay down our arms, now.

It's time to come home.
It's time for peace and prosperity
now that you've fought for liberty -
It's time to come home.

We must all cease to war, now.
Hate and fear breed alienation,
peace and love bring salvation.
We must all cease to war, now.

It's time to lay down our arms
and cease making war.
It's time, for us all, to come Home.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 5-29-11

night haiku

Night

darkness
spreads out like a blanket
covers us all

slowly light fades
shadows lengthen in silence
then all is dark

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 5-26-11

heat

heat

heat scorches
grass too new to be green
baked earth is silent


Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 5-29-11

RAGE tanka

RAGE

blood pounds brain
trembling hands can't hold a pen
the heat is too much

without a way to leave
rage slowly destroys


Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 5-29-11

sunflower

SUNFLOWER

Yellow dot blue sky
Guardian of the garden
Praises the sun

Michelle Balletto - Wooten
© 5/22/11