Pulp
                    Diction
                    
Robert
                    Hazelton
                  
                
              
              

                

                  

                    

                    
Not
                    Quite Right
                    
Bob
                    Church
                  
                
              
              

                

                  

                    

                    
Whisper
                    Gap
                    
Jo
                    Janoski
                  
                
              
              

                

                  

                    

                    
From
                    The Attic
                    
T. Owen
                    Stark
                  
                
              
              

                

                  

                    
Cheshire Cat
                    
Chronicles
                    
Rusty
                    Arquette
                  
                
              
              

                

                  

                    
Nothin' Better
                    
To
                    Do
                    
Billy
                    Jones
                  
                
              
              

                

                  

                    
Songs
                    of
                    
the
                    Soul
                    
Harry
                    Furness
                  
                
              
 
            

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
 

            
From The Publisher's
            Desk

            Poetry, ramblings and
            real life

            by Shirley Whiting Allard


            
Tradition


            
I would
            like to begin by thanking everyone who has contributed to the
            magazine. We are acquiring a loyal readership that is steadily
            growing thanks to some amazing teamwork. The new design is coming
            together and will improve and grow steadily over the next few
            months. Many readers are enjoying the fruits of our creative
            gardening!

            
 

            
Late last night as I was finishing up the
            magazine I kept thinking about Christmas and all the things I
            still have to do to prepare for it. Shopping, food, candles (lots
            of candles), decorations, the tree...I'm a great believer in
            tradition. We have our Christmas with our children on Christmas
            eve so that they can spend Christmas morning with their children.
            I always put out last years Christmas pictures which gets them
            all reminiscing and laughing. After our candlelight dinner the
            grandkids head for the tree which starts out quite orderly but
            seldom lasts. We always end up in a pile of empty boxes and crumpled
            and torn wrapping paper that comes off much faster than it goes
            on!

            


            
Christmas At Our House


            
Suddenly, I thought about all the families
            that will not be together and I felt very lucky to have all these
            things to do and a family to do them for. So many families will
            be missing a son, a daughter, a grandchild, a husband who are
            deployed and my heart goes out to them. The following poem is
            dedicated to all the American Soldiers and their families who
            will not be together this Christmas. We thank you for your sacrifice
            and pray for your safe return.

            
 

            
To Those Who Serve

            
The lights are on and all is in full swing

            As Hark, The Herald Angels we all sing

            The child is at the door to try and sneak

            A look at Santa's cache - the slightest peek!

            The tree is standing tall beneath its star

            With trim and glitz and toys and gifts bizarre

            Yes all is well because of what you do

            Our special 'thanks' go out to all of you.

            For someone, somewhere, surely will be missed

            Sweet someones will be longing for your kiss

            Sweet children will be up and feeling sad

            Cause Santa didn't bring their Mom or Dad.

            We pray that God will keep you in His grace

            And soon you will resume your rightful place.

            
Happy Holidays!

            

            
Shirley Allard resides in
            New Hampshire with her husband Jim. She has two grown children
            and two young grandchildren who are the light in her life. She
            is the founding publisher of WordCatalyst.comand writes the blog Whispers In The Wind.

            
For poems by Shirley visit here, page1,
            page2, and her for
            her columns visit then,
            and before.