Yesterday's Angels
By Julie Dykes

Where have they all gone?
Those angels I saw yesterday–
Don’t try to tell me I’m crazy.
I know what I saw.
That bald mechanic in the garage–
Shouting blessings at me as I walked by,
He called me a little darling.
Yesterday, I was.
That little girl, queen of sidewalk
Waving her hot pink baton, commanded me–
“YOU have a Nice Day!!”
Yesterday, I did.
That sixteen-year-old boy at the park,
Telling me the butterfly perched on my thumb
Knew I owned a quiet, gentle spirit.
Yesterday, I did too.
Today has devoured me, smacking its lips.
Where are my angels?
Now that I am ugly and worn,
And possessed of a biting, swearing spirit.
Have I scared them away altogether?

 

Honorable Mention Poetry

Your Universe

By Cara Colleen
Department of Finance

How immense this universe of yours—unfathomable at best,
Infinity “quantified” into an endless, visible grandeur,
Populated with focal points and whole areas of radiance
Where the dark splendor gathers itself into light
In every possible array of beauty.
The vastness of it all merely magnifies the brilliance…
I remind my heart that my miniscule self still has significance
Suspended in space on this petite planet, also yours,
I am one pinprick of light unseen by natural eye,
But contributing by participation in this majestic
Display of your glory.
It seems for this moment, as if I
Could touch the stars with my fingertips,
Could feel a pulsating back and forth of awe.
This silent siren song of dreamers draws me,
Like the roaring of this earth’s longing for you,
For rebirth, for restoration of creation as you intended.
We weep together, the earth and I,
As the distant suns share our sorrow, but sing of hope—
A hope as immense as this universe,
Embodied in the focal point of time when you stood here
Staring at the night sky as I do now.
You knew the reality of the new heaven, new earth,
That will come to us all because you came.
You are infinity “quantified” into the shape of a man,
Yet more measureless by far than any being could begin to grasp.
The cosmos reveals your nature—endless and unlimited,
Exhibited in the finite beauty of the visible realm.
What I see touches the part of me that knows the unseen
Generating a deeper longing to know
The invisible, infinite you behind what I see.

Memories of Gold
 
by David S. Noel
Section of Surgical Sciences

The sun sets;
Laughter and looks from soulful eyes.
Next, gentle caresses and sweet lips as
they follow the lunar eclipse, one single bright star,
and dance…
Then, bright yellow sunrises
and more golden memories.
All leading to white roses.

 

Let Me Be
by Andrea “Ondee” Whitman
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Let me be histrionic and wax poetic—even if it makes you uncomfortable.
Let me be a tortured soul and speak of travail—even when times are good.
Let me be the ingénue and dance the night away—even if the sitter is waiting.
Let me be bored and not amused even when there are books unread and creative ideas in my head.
Let me be carefree and frivolous—even when there are bills to pay.
Let me be idealistic and far reaching—even if it’s only a dream.
I love it when you let me be
I love it when you let me be…me
Let me be over the top and assuming—even when we’re in public.
Let me be romantic and stare in your eyes—even if the moment isn’t right.
Let me be the woman of your dreams and the one that got away—even if it’s Monday morning.
Let me be the rock star and screen siren—even if the stage is in my mind.
Let me be loud and obnoxious—even when the room is silent and you want to tell me to be quiet.
Let me be opinionated and passionate—even if you don’t agree.
I love it when you let me be
I love it when you let me be…me
I know it’s asking a lot
And sometimes you wish I were demure, soft spoken
Sugar and spice and everything nice
But we both know I’m not the girl next door
Wasn’t that part of the allure?
You’ll love it when you let me be
You’ll love it when you let me be…me

 

Never Say Goodnight

by Mandy Haynes
Pediatric Echo Lab

Where do you go, when you close your eyes?
What do you see that I can’t?
I hear your breath, getting deeper and slower
I feel my heart race, my pulse quicken
Don’t go!
I pull at the covers and feel you coming back to me.
Where do you go, when you fall asleep?
Who is there with you, I am here.
I feel your muscles relax, your eyes no longer moving beneath your eyelids
I can’t stand it, I panic
Don’t go!
I shake you gently and feel you coming back to me.
Where do you go, when sleep finally wins?
What do you do, what do you feel?
I feel your arm tighten around me,
I feel your breath again, getting deeper and slower
On the back of my neck
It comforts me and I feel my muscles relaxing,
and my mind lets go and sleep takes over.
And I am off
to find you in my dreams.