Challenge from Shaun: Write a poem about cycles in nature. ** This poem is one I wrote last year as I woke up overlooking River Street in Savannah, Georgia and watched the sun creep up over the cobblestone streets, barges, and early morning ferry boats shuttling people back and forth, a cycle of transportation and time. This prompt takes me back to those memories of pralines and Spanish moss-draped oaks and Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home nestled in the shadow of a beautiful cathedral! I can still taste the traces of a peach sangria in City Market, the diminishing drinks a cycle of sunrises and sunsets as well.
Mayan Frost
6 Big round waking orb Eye opening slowly Peering out over the blanket of pines Ready or not to face the day 7 Rising slowly Sluggish day jobber Not quite ready to fully emerge But still you rise 8 Both feet on the ground Embracing the day Extending full rays Flashing a just-brushed toothy gleam To a rapt audience 10 Like an over-charged cup of Starbucks Sudden jolting glares Blinding sunglassed drivers Through windshields 12 You shine most brightly At the height of your day Climbing the ladder as high as it can take you In this job Lunch on the run – airplanes, kites, birds Fuel for the day 2 Rain and clouds darken your shine But you steal their thunder – A light surge of effort for you 6 You clock out and head home Miles to go before you sleep Change into more comfy duds Shed all the glinting bling 9 You stretch out to reflect on the day Glimmers of hope for a brighter tomorrow Succumb to a nightcap Feet-first, climb under the covers Call it a day 12 Big round blanketed orb, Shooting stars patting your upturned bottom Dreams alive in other worlds Until tomorrow
Common Threads 
** This poem is one I wrote last year as I woke up overlooking River Street in Savannah, Georgia and watched the sun creep up over the cobblestone streets, barges, and early morning ferry boats shuttling people back and forth, a cycle of transportation and time. This prompt takes me back to those memories of pralines and Spanish moss-draped oaks and Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home nestled in the shadow of a beautiful cathedral! I can still taste the traces of a peach sangria in City Market, the diminishing drinks a cycle of sunrises and sunsets as well.
Mayan Frost
6
Big round waking orb
Eye opening slowly
Peering out over the blanket of pines
Ready or not to face the day
7
Rising slowly
Sluggish day jobber
Not quite ready to fully emerge
But still you rise
8
Both feet on the ground
Embracing the day
Extending full rays
Flashing a just-brushed toothy gleam
To a rapt audience
10
Like an over-charged cup of Starbucks
Sudden jolting glares
Blinding sunglassed drivers
Through windshields
12
You shine most brightly
At the height of your day
Climbing the ladder as high as it can take you
In this job
Lunch on the run – airplanes, kites, birds
Fuel for the day
2
Rain and clouds darken your shine
But you steal their thunder –
A light surge of effort for you
6
You clock out and head home
Miles to go before you sleep
Change into more comfy duds
Shed all the glinting bling
9
You stretch out to reflect on the day
Glimmers of hope for a brighter tomorrow
Succumb to a nightcap
Feet-first, climb under the covers
Call it a day
12
Big round blanketed orb,
Shooting stars patting your upturned bottom
Dreams alive in other worlds
Until tomorrow
-Kim Johnson