Walked outside and smelled the air,
a hint of oak, a dash of birch,
saw a small black bird sit and perch.
Walked to my seat at the book store in town,
I walked in as I would normally do,
on this Monday morning, without a frown.

 Picked up the paper and read it to me,
read the famous poet Poe, and his Annabel Lee.
Time had passed, and the clock read noon,
I would come back to this spot very soon.

On peanut butter mountain
topped with marshmallow goop,
stands a little chocolate kiss
dancing the loop-E-loop.

Along came a hazel nut
looking oh, so fine,
he gave a wink to the kiss
and asked, "will you be mine"?

The little kiss gave him a sigh
and said "I'm sorry, no can do,
for you see, a chocolate kiss
should never be seen with a nut like you."

The dejected nut slid down the slope
and found himself left quite aloof;
like he had been one other time
when peanut butter stuck him up on a roof.

The kiss glanced down and said "I'm sorry,
but chocolate is best with peanut butter".
"I have a friend who may like you;
her name is Carmel chewy chew
and I've heard she goes for nuts like you."

-- Submitted by Gloria Sarasin from Trinity, NC

Quiet I must be, can't let the monster find me
It seeks me out and calls my name,
I wish it would leave me alone, I'm not to blame.
I feel the need, the need to peek, to get away I must sneak.
In the hall I hear a sound then a bump, have I been found!
With a squeal and a laugh I run,
it sees me and asks if I'm having fun
I run as fast as my legs will go,
the monster jumps and starts to follow
The monster catches me, laughs and says what a bother,
you broke the vase and hide from your mother.

-- Submitted by Zac Muse from Australia

We'll climb the steps, we'll take it slow
We'll watch the elephant laugh and blow
The kangaroo and joeys, too
Will be a friend to me and you

We will fly a kite and eat ice cream
We'll travel far to explore our dreams
Go where you like and really have fun
We'll dance and play till the setting of the sun.

-- Submitted by Susan Adams from Grand Forks, BC, Canada

-- Submitted by Rudy Hoedel from Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

This moment amidst a winters day,
trees so bare and stark.
I smelt that scent upon the breeze
that lifts a winter's heart

It was that scent , that special scent
of spring so near at last
Caught in the rain of a blustery shower
which passes by so fast

What a scent, so fresh so bright
to a lift a February day
To know that 'ere too long
much more will come our way.

-- Submitted by Dai Wynne-Jones from UK

She's got a hot white body with a black fading top.
Older, but not shoddy, she goes be-bop, be-bop.
That's how she makes you feel when you're all settled in
You gotta take the wheel. Gotta take her for a spin.

I love my Ford Mustang with all her gold trim
And to see the kids all lusting has me busting to the brim.
Conveyed by my sweet girl, I convey that when I drive
I'm immune to all the world, and we're ANDIE55.

-- Submitted by Andrea Dietrich from Pleasant Grove, Utah

Whenever you are feeling sad
Your eyes fixed upon the ground
You need someone to cheer you up
To turn your frown upside down

When times can get real rough
You need someone to lift your chin
Or tickle you 'till you can't breathe
Or 'till you simply grin

A kiss is just a kiss
A hug a mere embrace
But nothing beats the worldly known
A smile upon the face

-- Submitted by Stephanie Inman from New Brighton, PA