Woven

No one noticed
him hiding
beneath
basket woven
by parents'
fingers.

Tucks intended
to show
his grace,
his talents,
and brilliance
never
captured the prize.

Carelessly
placed
ash and willow splints
never meshed
to display
the best of
him.


Do Not Kiss

They argue about the color of her eyes.
Neither really wants to win.
Connection rides the glances
between them.
How did this begin?

Touches are tender,
warm and getting warmer.
Barriers fall to ankles
amid a sign broken on the floor
flashing a message, "Do not kiss."
A fortune without the cookie.


William A. Poppen, is a retired professor pursuing his interests in hiking, poetry, and photography. His photography has been featured in Hiss Quarterly, and his first poetry published in True Poetry (An e-zine that is no longer published.) He blogs at http://www.xanga.com/vexations posting either photos or poems. He lives in Knoxville, TN and enjoys outings in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.