Bittersweet

By Jill Harrington Nichols Your sun-kissed yellow skin reminds me of the fading summer the orange the deepening shadows of winter this bittersweet time of yearso elusivethe bitter bite of foreshadowgnawing at my mind autumn to winter the bittersweet hangs in the air

My First Wrinkle

By Jill Harrington Nichols My first wrinkle began at age seven It started inmy heart then went to my smile my 1st grade frienddied at the hands of a madmanHe had to be madRight out of his mind to kill such a beautiful girl on the 7th birthday that we sharedWe played Time BombButton, buttonWho’s…

When I Am Gone

Jill Harrington Nichols I will be the snowflake that melts on your cheek.The butterfly that kisses your hand.The breaking wave that tickles your toes.The falling leaf that brushes your hair. And when it is dark, I will be the moonbeam touching the shadows.The first ray of light for the new day. Soft breezes will be…

Oklahoma Eulogy

by Jill Nichols in 1995Marble dust dawn to duskache in heart of nation epitaph our brother turned to shambles federal rootswhere lowly grasses gave winged flight consumedshock waves unlocked vibrations that rocked the nationtwist and spin heart beats silenced vultures circle over ruins bramblecrow cries outdipped wings of wounded eaglelions lair was setquick filled mortarmass…