8. To the Stars Through Difficulty: Marie Asner

lightning trails a whip across the sky
before striking dry earth
orange flames dance
an upward spear propelled by animal voices

sun slips fearfully away
slant-eyed along the horizon
south wind rides the clouds in herds
running from a hunter’s moon
who with eyes of ruby coal
and breath of smoke can’t find his prey

— Marie Asner

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133. dot on the horizon

for hours

before it arrived

we could hear

branches of trees rustle uneasily

then ice crystals formed

in perfect math

as stones by the barn

covered themselves in frost

snow and frozen shards

fell in cascades

diamonds and white sapphires

cover the prairie

sharp as knives

lethal

in our home

we wrap our arms

around each other

and wait for eternity to pass

— Marie Asner

Marie Asner is an entertainment reviewer in the greater Kansas City area and with Chicago outlets. She has had regular appearances on KCUR-FM (Kansas City NPR). Marie is a free lance writer, poet, workshop presenter and past member of Kansas Arts on Tour.