By Ann Christine Tabaka Thunder echoed through the night, as lightning streaked the sky, illuminating the heavens. The rain fell so hard that the sound of it kept Valerie awake. She pulled the covers over her head to block out the bright flashes and sound. Curling up, she hugged the pillow tightly. She remembered hugging … Continue reading Thunder and Lighting
The Step-Mother
By Ann Christine Tabaka Madalyn did not like having to be alone with her step-mother all the time. She was irked with her father for having to travel far away from home for work so often. Her step-mother was not mean or cruel like the evil step-mother in the stories that she read, like Cinderella. … Continue reading The Step-Mother
The Traveling Circus Show and Other Poems
By Ann Christine Tabaka The Traveling Circus Show I remember … The circus came to town that year. A show of strange and exotic beasts. Billowing tents stained with age evoked images of castles. Music played; stories were told. Laughter pealed through the air. Colored lights and magic weaved their charm. We danced; we sang. … Continue reading The Traveling Circus Show and Other Poems
The Lane is a River
By Ann Christine Tabaka We were in our mid-forties when we decided to get married. We had both been married before. At that point in our lives, we thought it would be best if we found that perfect house before exchanging our vows. At our age we knew we did not need to buy … Continue reading The Lane is a River
Poems by Ann Christine Tabaka
Resist Against Resistance Stand upSit downTake a kneeTurn your backProtests are nothing new Silent facesMouths tapedEyes shutArms crossedDisbelief fosters opposition Signs screamWords redExclamation marksHeld highMarching across the land Roads closedBodies proneBodies supineBlock trafficSolidarity harbors truth Your Warmth Twenty six years together,eight of them good,none really bad. So what if we sleepin separate rooms? Many of … Continue reading Poems by Ann Christine Tabaka
Poems by Ann Christine Tabaka
Garment of Pain Trying to forget pain sewn into the hem of my life, with stitches straight and precise. No scissor can cut me free. Adamantine thread of dolor, pulled tight, knotted and tucked deftly. Perfect garment of malaise, worn without a thought of redemption. Cold truth filtrates through loose woven cloth. Frayed edges … Continue reading Poems by Ann Christine Tabaka
Your Life Depends On It
By Ann Christine Tabaka Dragon’s breath. Last breath. Breath of life. Breathe already! Do not hold your breath. Life is too short but shorter still are the moments worth remembering. First step. Next step. Fast step. Take a step already! Do not stop moving. Find your direction and march towards it. Keep the pace, do … Continue reading Your Life Depends On It
Raining Tears
By Ann Christine Tabaka A summer rain pierces my heart with sewing needles sharp hot tears from the sky washing away burning memories of what could have been gushing downstream into swirling puddles of illusion reflecting only sad eyes Ann Christine Tabaka is a nominee for the 2017 Pushcart Prize in Poetry. She placed Third in … Continue reading Raining Tears
Storm Dance
By Ann Christine Tabaka Tall grasses begin to sway as they dance with the wind. Prophetic sky morphs to gray, the storm about to begin. There is nowhere left to hide. The tempest sets its course. Mighty trees bow down low to the unrelenting force. It rages on in torrents. There appears no end in … Continue reading Storm Dance
Night Refuge
By Ann Christine Tabaka Flying by the window of time, seeking truth. Lurking in hidden passages, susurrations follow. Apparitions haunt the shadows of the imagination. There are no more wishes, the stars have all gone dark. Pain swallowed the night. So, escape the day. Flee for the night, never look back. Run towards the darkness … Continue reading Night Refuge
Academy of the Heart And Mind 