Peony


HE ASKED ME
WHAT I WANTED
TO SEE
GROWING IN
THE SPRING,
I TOLD HIM
I WANTED A
PEONY,
A MOST
IMPORTANT
THING,
THIS BRILLIANT
FLOWER
ENCHANTING
BOWER
OF BEAUTY
AND LIFE
REMINDS
ME OF THE
IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
THAT STAYS
WITH ME
FOREVER FREE
FROM OTHER THINGS,
THE QUEEN OF
BLOSSOMS
SURELY MADE
FROM PETALS
TUCKED IN
CLOSE PARADE,
CHUBBY
LUSCIOUS
HOT PINK
FLOWERS
BLOOMING
IN THE SHADE,
I MENTION
THIS BECAUSE
A TIME OF
DIRE STRAITS
HAS CAUSED
THE CRIME
OF SICKNES
IN THE BODY
AND MIND,
SEPARATELY
ENTERING
FROM BEHIND,
WE’VE BEEN
INVADED BY
FEAR AND
DEATH,
AT TIMES WHEN
YOU CAN’T
TAKE A BREATH
WITHOUT
ANOTHER STORY,
PEOPLE
DYING
FAMILIES
CRYING
NEWS CASTS
FORECASTS
FEAR AND DOUBT,
IT PLAGUES THE
BEST OF US,

WITH ONLY
ONE WAY
OUT OF TOWN,
MENTAL VISIONS
MUST SURROUND
AND GENTLY
COVER THE
AWESOME ENTRY
SLIT IN THE BRAIN,
A HOLE AS BIG
AS THE
ROARING
FREIGHT TRAIN:
THE PEONY IS
MY NEW KOOLAID,
THE FANCY
FLOWER
IN AWESOME
GRADE,
I HEARD A
WOMAN THAT
I ADMIRE
SUGGESTING
JUST THIS
WAY:
CLOSE YOUR
MIND TO
ALL THE GRIEF
SUBMIT THE
SOUL TO
GREAT RELIEF,
YOU CANNOT
CHANGE
EXCEPT YOURSELF
INCLUDING
ALL THE MENTAL
HEALTH,
FIND A SPOT
WHERE YOU CAN
SIT
BENEATH THE
WISHING TREE,
CONCENTRATE ON
HAPPINESS
AS CLOSE
AS IT MAY BE,
SEE THE LIGHT
COME SOARING IN
EMBRACE IT
NOW
WITHOUT THE SIN
OF FEAR AND
DARKNESS
ONCE AGAIN,
AND WATCH
MY PEONY
GROW AND SPIN
INTO NEW LIFE
AND COLORS
BREAKING
INTO YOUR
FERTILE MIND,
THEN CLOSE
THE EYES
AND YOU
WILL RISE
ABOVE
FRAY
WHERE YOU
WILL STAY,
BLESSED BY
LOVE AND
DIGNITY,
TAKE MY
HAND
SWEET MYSTERY!

©JW WINSLOW 5/1/2020

Two Babies


TWO BABIES
IN THE WOMB
COMING TOWARD
THEIR LIVES
CAUSING SUCH
A LOVING GIFT
IN THIS WORLD
OF STRIFE,
I WONDERED HOW
I MIGHT SECURE
A MINDSET
SAFE AND SOUND
SCRAMBLING
IN THE ESCAPADE
THAT’S COME
TO HANG AROUND,
A BLASTING
FORCE
OF DESTINY
A SORRY KIND
OF SYMPHONY,
UNEXPECTED
DISCONNECTED,
DARK AND SCARY
SOLITARY…
IN THE MOOD
OF WORLDLY THINGS
THIS VIRUS
SLAMS US HARD
FRIGHTFUL
STINGING
HORRIBLE,
I MUST FIND
THE ADORABLE,
THE LOVE
AND BEAUTY
HIDDEN NOW
BENEATH THE
HARDEST NEWS
THERE ISN’T
MUCH DECISION
TO SEE THE
LIGHT
AND CHOOSE
TO DWELL UPON
THE JOY OF BIRTH
THE HAPPINESS
DESPITE THE DIRTH,
TWO NEW LIVES
ON THEIR WAY
COMING UP SOON
TO BRIGHTEN THE DAY,

THIS REMINDS ME
THAT WE SHOULD
REMEMBER ALL
THAT IS SO GOOD:
TINY HANDS
AND BRAND
NEW EYES
BEING BORN
WITHOUT DISGUISE,
PROTECTED
NOW BY
MOTHER’S WOMB,
AWAY FROM
SADNESS
DEATH AND GLOOM,
IT SEEMS TO SAY
THERE IS A WAY
TO CARRY ON
IN FACT,
CLOSE OUR EYES
AND SURMISE
THAT LIFE WILL
BE IN TACT,
THE RIGHTOUS
FEAR
THAT TUMBLES
DOWN
UPON OUR HEARTS
AS IF TO CROWN
A MISERY
WE CAN’T AVOID,
BUT SOMEWHERE
IN THE DARK
ARE EVEN
BREATHS
AND HAPPINESS,
ONE DAUGHTER
AND ONE SON
TO CARRY ON
THE NEW FRONTIERS
LEARNING HOW
TO COPE
WITH TEARS,
THEY SHINE IN
FRESH AND
SWEET NEW LIFE,
WHILE MOM
AND DAD
PROTECT THEM
FROM THE
HARSH AND BAD,
SO ON THE DAY
WHEN THIS
BIG STORM
IS OVER AND
FORGOTTEN,
THERE WILL BE
A BRAND NEW
WAY
TO SAVE THE
EARTH,
AND IT WILL COME
FROM THESE NEW
BIRTHS,
TAKE MY
WORD
WE WILL SEE
THEM SENDING
LOVE AND
EMPATHY,
AND SO FOR
JUST A NOTE
TODAY,
THERE WILL
BE A BETTER WAY,
TAKE THIS TRULY
WITH LOVE
FROM ME:
BE YOUR BEST
AND WAIT
AND SEE!

©JW WINSLOW 4/1/2020

Sekhmet


SHE FLEW AWAY
TO SEEK
THE GODDESS
ALTHOUGH
SHE IS ONE
HERSELF:
HOPING TO ARRANGE
A GIFT
TO BOOST HER
MENTAL HEALTH,

BY RECONNECTING
A SPIRIT BOND
WITH
EGYPT’S FAMOUS
GODDESS WAND
FIRST DONE
SO LONG AGO,
FOR NOW
IT SEEMED THE
BLESSED THING
SEEKING FUTURES
ALL AGLOW,
AND THEN
SHE TOOK
THE OVERTIME
AND TURNED IT
INTO TRAVEL TIME
FOLLOWING A HUNCH
THAT LANDED IN
HER BUSY MIND:
NOW WAS TIME
TO JUST UNWIND,
SET ASIDE THE
CARES OF LIFE
THE RENT, THE
DETAILS
THE FROZEN
PAST OF
SPINNING WHEELS,
FOR SEKHMET
CAME SOARING
BACK
ALONG THE
SHAKY MEMORY
TRACK,
WHEN MEN WERE
TOPS
AND LOVERS
PLOPPED AWAY,
MOANING
GROANING
EVERY DAY,
IN THE MIDST
OF CASUALTY
CAME A FIREY
VOICE,
A VISION OF
THE INNOCENCE
A REPLAY OF
HER CHOICE,
AND NOW I
LOOK AT POETRY
AND LINES OF
EGYPT’S CHIVELRY,
BLENDED BY
THE HANDS OF WOMEN
BENT UPON
A SOURCE OF LIGHT,
TO HELP YOU MAKE
IT
THROUGH THE NIGHT
THE FIGHT OF REFUGE
THE END OF TEARS
WASTED MOMENTS
FUTILE FEARS,

FOR ALL OF THIS
IS DEEP WITHIN
THE PASSION OF
THE SOULS
OF WOMEN
REACHING
OUT
TO SEEK THEIR
PRECIOUS
SECRET GOALS,
AS I RECALL
AT FIRST GLANCE
THE BEAUTY OF MY
FRIEND,
WONDERING JUST
WHO SHE WAS
AND WHERE IT
ALL WOULD END,
SHE SEEMED SO
GENTLE AND
QUIETLY BOLD
AND NOW I KNOW
AT BEST,
SHE TRIPS ALONG
THE ROAD OF LIFE
SEEKING PATHS
OF REST,
A WOMAN’S LIFE
HAS CHANGED A LOT
FROM TIMES WHEN
WE UNTIED
THE KNOT,
DOORS HAVE
OPENED
LIFE HAS MOVED
INTO PATHS
OF BRILLIANT
GROOVES,
THE FREEDOM
OF THE FEMALE
HAS JUMPED RIGHT
OFF THE HEAVY
SCALE
INTO TIMES
WHERE
WE MAY CHOOSE
AND TAKE A
CHANCE
TO WIN OR LOSE,
AND I AM
WONDERING
WHAT WILL BE
WHEN MY
DEAR FRIEND
COMES
HOME TO ME:
SIT RIGHT DOWN
AND WE WILL SEE!

©JW WINSLOW 3/1/2020

2/13/20 – Christine Winge

Christine Winge

Christine Winge
Executive Director of Access Media Productions
+ Special Surprise Guest!
Happy Valentine’s Day

The Shadow of Lilies


LIKE A SHADOW
OF POPPA
OR MAYBE
MY MOM,
THE PAGES
RELEASE
A CERTAIN
TINGE OF
SORROW
MIXED IN
WITH THE
BRILLIANT
BUDS
AND FLOWERS,
THE SPACIOUS
TREES
AND TINY BULBS
OFFERED UP
IN A BOOK
FULL OF
THE GREEN
THUMB
DREAMS,
ARRIVING
IN THE MAIL
WITH A
SERIOUS
IMPORTANT
REQUEST:
PLEASE
LOOK
AND SEE
AND
CAPTURE ME,
FOR SPRING
IS TWISTING
THE LEDGE
OF SUSPENSION,
BEHIND MANY
SCENES
POPPING
UP DURING
THE NIGHT,
ARISING TO
OPEN
THE NEXT DAY,
ONE NEVER
KNOWS
THE EXPERTS
WILL SAY,
SO COZY
UP IN BED
OR A BIG
CHAIR
INSTEAD
AND FLIP
THROUGH
THE PAGES
OF BLOOMING
MIXED STAGES,
COLORS
MADE FROM
ORANGE
TO BLUE
FROM RED
ON CUE,
SOME WITH
LEAVES
CURLED ABOUT
AND MANY
STALKS
STANDING
HIGH,
JUST ENOUGH
TO REACH
THE SKY,
(AT LEAST,
YOUR EYE),

THE DREAMS
OF A VERDANT
AND FERTILE
PLACE
TO REST
YOUR HEAD,
LAY ABOUT
AND DREAM
INSTEAD,
THE GARDEN
HAS A SPECIAL
WAY OF
COMFORTING,
SCENTS OF
BRILLIANT SPICE
OR SUBTLE
ORIENT,
NO DIFFERENCE
IN THE
SWEET ENJOYMENT,
YOU WILL
LONG TO
TOUCH
THESE SAMPLES,
AND THAT’S
WHAT THEY
HOPE,
THE FOLKS
WHO REMIND
US TO CUT,
DIG AND POKE,
KNOWING AT
LEAST
ONE OR TWO
TINY BEASTS
WILL COME
INTO THE HEART,
IT’S ONLY
A PART OF
HUMAN
NATURE,
LIKE THE
CAVE MEN
BEFORE US
AND THE
SPACE SHIPS
BEYOND,
THERE
ALWAYS WILL
BE THE
GREENS,
THE BUDS
AND LEAVES,
THE WAVING
TREES,
THE AIR
SO BLESSED
WITH THE SCENT
OF GOD,
LINGERING
THERE
AMONGST
THE
PAMPAS GRASS
AND APPLE
TREES,
HE LIVES AND
WATCHES
US WITH
EASE,
AND SENDS
THE FLOWERS
TO MAKE
YOU SNEEZE,
NEAR AND
FAR…
SO THERE
YOU ARE!

©JW WINSLOW 2/1/2020

Winter Jasmine!


HOW COULD IT
BE
AT THIS TIME
OF THE YEAR,
THE TINY WHITE
BLOSSOMS
SO FRAGRANT
AND DEAR,
THEY CAME
FROM THE
GARDEN
FRESH
PICKED JUST
NOW,
A SWEET
NEW DISCOVERY
JUST WONDERING
HOW
TO SHOW ITS
PURE LIGHT
HAVING BLOOMED
IN THE NIGHT
A BIG SURPRISE
AND A SIGHT
FOR SORE EYES,
THOSE THAT
HAVE SURVIVIED
THE HARD RAIN
AND ALL THE
PAIN
OF A CRUMMY
WET FALL,
NOT VERY
MUCH
FUN
AT ALL,
AND A BIT
SCARY TOO
THIS CLOUDY
GRAY ZOO
MELTING INTO
THE SUN,
PLENTY OF
TIMES TO
PROVE THE
SUBLIME,
AND ALLOW
A FRESH BREATH
OF AIR,
AND SO IT
ARRIVED
THIS TINY
BOUQUET
GIVEN IN LOVE
AND A
CARING
SWEET WAY,
JUST WHAT
I NEEDED
ON THAT
GLOOMY
DARK DAY:
A TINY
BLUE VASE
THE COLOR
OF CLOUDS
MIXED IN
WITH SKY,
HELD IN THE
HAND
OF MY FAVORITE
GUY,
HE FOUND IT
HIDING
SO CLOSE
TO THE SKY,
WAITING BENEATH
ALL THOSE
LEAVES,
WITH A SCENT
LIKE THE
HEAVENS
SO FRESH
AND COMPLETE,
NOTHING LIKE
PUDDLES
AND COLD
OLD
BARE FEET,

AND TO MY
SURPRISE
HE
HANDED IT
OVER,
SMILING IN JEST
ROLLING IN
CLOVER,
KNOWING THAT
I WAS JUST
SO MUCH IN NEED
OF A WONDERFUL
GIFT
ON THE FIRST
MORNING SHIFT,
I’LL COP TO
A YEAR
THAT HAS
BEEN RAMPANT
WITH FEAR,
AND FRUSTRATED
MINUTES
WITHOUT
ANY LIMITS,
SO JUST WHEN
I CLIMB
BACK ON MY FEET
CONVINCED THAT
THE WORLD
STILL CAN
BE A TREAT,
HERE COMES
ANOTHER
RATHER
BAD SLAM,
ROLLING THE
DICE
AND PAYING THE PRICE,
BUT SOMEWHERE
OUT THERE
A VOICE FROM
THE SKY
HAS GATHERED
THE WISDOM
AND OPENED
MY EYES:
WATCH FOR
THE LITTLE
THINGS
COMING YOUR
WAY,
CELEBRATE LIVING
ALIVE
ONE MORE DAY,
LAUGH ‘TILL
YOU CRY
AND OPEN
YOUR EYES
TO THE PLETHORA
OF DREAMS
(FOR LIFE IS
NOT ALWAYS
AS BAD
AS IT SEEMS)
WATCH FOR YOUR
JASMINE
WHENEVER
IT COMES
AND THANK
GOD FOR
HEAVENLY
WONDERFUL
DRUMS,
WALK THROUGH
THE DOOR
AND INTO THE
LIGHT,
A BRIGHT DAY
BEGINS
WITH A
NEW CHANCE
TO WIN!

©JW WINSLOW 1/1/2020