Introducing Shontay Luna, A Fantastic Poet!

I am excited to introduce you to an amazing poet named Shontay Luna from Chicago, Illinois! Shontay’s work is filled with wonderful imagery, taking the reader on an emotional journey through thoughtful interpretation.

At The End Of The Day

I want a gorgeous man when I get home

from a long day, wearing nothing but his

skin and a smile as he automatically pours

me a drink. Putting in so much ice, I’m

reminded of igloos. Containing so much

alcohol,it should accompanied with a ball of

cotton. A concoction of spiked, rebellious

nectar that I eagerly await to partake in. To

forget the heat simmering the city outside

where I passed people frying eggs AND

bacon on the sidewalk. As the beverage

storms it’s way through the desert of my

mouth, it removes from me the day’s events

as well as all reason. A proximate escape

from the myriad of obligations that never ceased.

Handing me another container of soft ambrosia,

my eyes never leave his, the entirety of it’s contents

travelling down and away.

********

Time Is

Time is a mad

songbird, skipping

through lifetimes

when backs are

turned. The passing

can be quick; quicker

than the fastest

outlaw. Within a

blink, he’ll be gone.

Like a songbird,

whistling as he

rides into the sunset.

With bags of gold

topped with heated

pistols. The whispers

of townsfolk emerging

into screams upon the

dawn. Tick tock of the

clock a tap dance on the

brain, as one finale ends

but another begins.

Shontay Luna lives in the Midwest with a mix of pens, paper and Sons of Anarchy’s Juan Carlos “Juice” Ortiz fanfiction fantasies. A part-time public service worker by day, her poems have appeared in WestWard Quarterly, The Listening Eye, Text Power Telling, Umbrella Factory Magazine, Canyon Voices, Toasted Cheese, The Beatnik Cowboy and The Insurgence, among others. The author of four chapbooks of poetry, ‘The Goddess Journal’ is themed with puzzles and affirmations to elevate feminine self-esteem. Another is ‘To James & Sarah with Love’ - a Silent Generation slang memorial to her paternal grandparents. Shontay’s Instagram handle is @shontay_luna.

War

War has devastating effects, no matter when it happens or what it's about. Cooperation, understanding, and compassion should replace thoughts or intentions of war. War breaks down, it binds us to hurt and oppression. War destroys people, families, and countries. It leaves devastation and annihilation in its wake.

As people, we deserve so much better. We deserve peace, respect, and dignity. We deserve to be seen and heard in a positive and uplifting way. We can solve problems without violence. Violence only prolongs problems. Mercy, kindness, and empathy teach us that we matter, that our opinions matter, and that we are important as people, cultures, and countries. Deep down, we are all the same. We want to know that we matter, that we can create effective change without violence.

Let this be a world where compassion reigns, where understanding is valued more than temporary problems and complications. When we work together and solve problems together, we unify and build each other up. United we stand, divided we fall.

You Shone Like The Sun On Autumn Leaves

You shone like the sun on autumn leaves, Their remaining life brief before they fell from the trees;

The sun's light was strong, the warmth intense, Just as was your heart; loving, immense;

But the leaves shriveled up and neared their end, Just as you when you left, my child, my friend;

Your meaning lives on in every new day, I begged God for time to extend your stay;

It's a hard lesson to learn that you have no control, Over life, over love, over a darling child's soul;

All we can do is sift through the hours, And beg for provision, mercy and power,

To experience life's sentence of lessons and fate, Before we, too, find ourselves in heaven's estate.

Love us and guide us from your ethereal view,                                                                                 Until one day we are reunited with you.

-Diamante Lavendar

Increase Love's True Grit

Be the best you can be;

It's all you can do;

Put yourself in ,

Another one's shoes.

Re step your reasons,

Your where and your why;

Only then will you begin to

Grow wings and fly;

Pain is a process,

Letdown a game,

For inside each one of us,

We're all made the same.

Once we embrace this,

And dance through our trials,

Life will have meaning,

We'll endure it with smiles.

Heartbreak is a part of

This challenge and course,

If we clear all our hurdles,

We'll break every curse.

So next time a crisis,

Of loss and grief hit,

Don't believe the illusion,

Increase love's true grit.

Dedicated to my daughter Kelby.  May we live by her example of love and light.

Life's Meaning

  I have felt pressure, I have known pain;

The darkening sun, The advancement of rain;

The drops of doubt, The sting of fear;

The awful regrets, The loss of ones dear;

And I have wondered, The reasons why;

The pangs of pain sting, And the woes of hearts cry;

But then I remembered, The awakening within;

The dawning of love, The forgiveness of sin;

And I came to accept, And to understand;

That all of our days, Are held in God's hands;

The good and the bad, The struggles, the strife;

Are all building blocks, A composite of life;

For it is the passions, The pains, the chagrin;

That have made me seek light, To find hope once again!