Contributor: Ann Christine Tabaka

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Words that do not say a thing,
spout vague persuasions,

dancing around on a tongue
of fire. Heads tilting, nodding,

turning, What was that you
said? Writing a thesis of the

damned, we follow bread crumbs
of doubt. Ring around the Rosie,

time has all but passed. Sweet
garlands of discovery, upon

the ocean cast. A breath held
blue, a quandary spent, we

plunge ahead anew. Devoid of
sense, we seek the prize, a

lanced boil. Meanwhile paintings
of colorful decent adorn a contrived

world. Rising from the throng,
visions of disbelief profess to be

real. Fabricated phrases fill our
lives with words that say but nil.

Alas, all is smoke and mirrors,
… and smoke


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Ann Christine Tabaka was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize in Poetry, has been internationally published, and won poetry awards from numerous publications. She lives in Delaware, USA. She loves gardening and cooking. Chris lives with her husband and three cats.