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Send us your original poems and prose pieces.

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Email your Writers Corner submissions to [email protected].

We prefer e-mail submissions, and we ask that you limit the length of your stories and poems. Please include your hometown with your submission.

You can send hard-copies by mail to Maureen Dolan at The Press, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 83814.

Today I Choose

today i choose to love

even the pain

even the ache in my chest

that reminds me i am here for only a short time

today i choose to love imperfection

because it is so achingly perfect

so loaded with lessons i need this very moment

today I choose to love my ignorance

i choose to accept that I may not know anything

for sure

even though i think i do

i choose to love surprise

questions unanswered

because curiosity is so wonderful

and the unknown such a gift

today i choose love

everyday

i choose something

today i choose love.

- Jan Sarchio, Coeur d'Alene

The muddy, murky thoroughfare

Near-melted to the sky,

The dark and deadly evening air

Chilled the old oaks dry.

Nature was molting icy glaze

To wake pubescent Spring;

Man was counting down the days

Till March released her cling.

My hope for bloom was fading fast,

I felt only the grey

Which enveloped me like glass

Through which I saw dismay.

Years behind and years ahead

Made present peaceless rest.

And now it seemed I shared a bed

With the feckless and suppressed.

The moon's glimmer from off beside

Tripped my train of thought,

Small color waylaid my eye

Where melted snow was not.

A clear, blue bottle, still whole

Lay atop the ice,

Glass of heavy azure, quite cold,

And emptiness inside.

I envied that blue bottle,

Though it was cold, I warm,

For it had once been wholly full

While I still overflowed.

It had served its purpose now

While mine remained unwon;

That bottle had its life poured out,

And I, like Spring, had just begun.

- Danielle Curson, Coeur d'Alene

Closure

Now you're gone

So they tell me

While you rest

In your forever bed

I live with memories left for me

Great pretender

In dimness stalking past

Windows bleeding their

Warm light onto bitter earth

Spinning half truths

In a room full of

Believers

Who later

Circled me with their stones

Your lies fell on my deaf ears

Confrontation became the end of us

In not wanting to face your deceit

You chose

It shouldn't matter anymore

But it does

The heartbeat of life

Is calling to me

- Connie Gutierrez, Silverton

When you are sad and full of woe

Be at peace and "just let go."

Fear not the changes that life will bring

But look with hope and thoughts of spring.

God will help you through these hours

And will deliver you from the midnight showers

He has kept you safely until today

And will lead you on so you may stay

And when you think you cannot bear it any longer

God will hold you close in his arms, His love is stronger.

Be not afraid of what tomorrow has in store

Our Father in heaven who cares for you today will be with you forevermore

He will either protect you from all suffering and pain

Or he will give you the strength to bear it again and again.

Be at peace my friend

With this my love I send.

- Veldonna Armstrong, Post Falls

Internal Struggle

I have always felt

My life itself

Was the greatest confliction

But now I find

The reason why

And it starts with a couple's addiction

I am half her

I am half him

But they together make me

Her evil ways

His sunlit rays

Compose what you now see

God himself

Could never well

Be the man my father was

And Lucifer

Is scared of her

And the things my mother does

I'm left in this

Strange world amiss

Without either by my side

Their hearts still beat

Though we shan't meet

It's as if they had died

The best of both

The worst of both

Seem to struggle inside

This war is fought

Conflicting thoughts

Neither seem to subside

- Destiny Hawkins

THE ATTACK OF THE JELL-O SNATCHER

By Lynn Sikora, Post Falls

It was after ten in the evening and the children were finally asleep. Sitting down to watch television, Jenna's stomach began to growl. And she figured a lite snack would calm the rumbles down. Jenna was soon to find out that trying to eat a bowl of Jell-O near a hungry cat can prove to be a hazardous mistake.

Realizing that a commercial was on and that the Star Trek episode that she was

watching would soon be back on, she quickly scurried into the kitchen to rummage in the refrigerator. Time was of the essence. Her search produced a bowl of lime flavored Jell-O. As she made her way back to the couch, the rumblings from below started again. After a couple of bites, her internal noise maker was temporarily appeased. On the television, tension was building between the Federation and the Klingons. Jenna savored not only the plot but the Jell-O as well. During these blissful moments, Jenna was completely unaware that her Jell-O was being stalked.

Noise from the kitchen had called to Boots, a young cat, as an invitation to dine. With the slyness of a predator, Boots crept out from some dark recessed area of the house, but these Boots weren't made for walking; they were made for stalking. Crouched in the protection of the late night shadows, Boots just watched. Had Jenna looked up, she would have seen a pair of glowing eyes just waiting to seize the moment and the prize. Her stealth attack mode, worthy of a Klingon cloaking device, kept Boots from making any sounds to warn of her presence.

Entranced by the Klingon battle, Jenna's spoonful of Jell-O was left hanging in midair. Sensing that was her cue, Boots flew across the room with the speed of warp nine. The Klingon battle was almost over but Jenna's was about to begin. Leaping into Jenna's lap, Boots embraced the bowl. Stunned as if she had been shot with a Star Trek phaser, Jenna couldn't believe what she was seeing--Boots was growling and snarling while scooping paws full of Jell-O into her fanged, little mouth!

An avalanche of anger began to course through Jenna's veins. She slowly put the spoon back into the bowl. Trying not to attract the cat's attention, she went for the scruff of the cat's neck. Even while being lifted away, Boots continued to grab at the Jell-O but was launched across the room. The Federation had beaten the Klingons; Jenna had won the battle with Boots; but the Jell-O was gone. There was no neutral zone in this house and Jenna learned that she would have to keep a watchful eye open. No matter what part of space a life form is from, it isn't wise to eat a bowl of Jell-O near a hungry cat!