Moonlight Memories
 
The moonlight lingers long 
Over the shadows of my soul. 
Penetration eludes the mind 
In the silvery brightness of being. 
Waves of longing sweetness 
Hold my body prisoner 
Of memory’s braille fingers 
Touching my body’s holy places 
Lingering as the face of dawn 
Peeks in the curtained window. 
All night long the wild gypsy song 
Played across the softness of night 
And drew its bow with aching delight 
Across the muscled hardness 
Of your straining body, dripping 
Such honey over my glistening skin. 
Is it any wonder I resent the day; 
The hours dragging morning 
Past the fresh memory of your mouth 
While I dream of our shadowed bed 
Hung with moonlight, tracing 
The outline of your heaving form? 
O hurry day and draw the shade of night, 
For I am bathed; perfumed; and waiting, 
Wearing nothing but the memory of your kiss!


Time Was
 
Time was when a gale wind 
Swept across the field of wheat 
Making it look like a golden sea. 
Time was when the windmill whirred 
Filling the water trough for the horses, 
And the chickens scratched in the barnyard 
And the rooster crowed heralding dawn 
While I dreamed under winter covers on my bed. 
Time was when I could see my breath in the air 
When I stuck my head from under the quilt 
And smelled the scent of fresh coffee; pancakes 
And hot Maple Syrup and heard bacon frying. 
Time was when I jumped eagerly out of bed 
And greeted the outstretched arms of day 
With golden legs ready to run joyously 
Over the fields, meadows and streams 
And taste the wind in my hungry soul. 
Time was when the earth laughed 
Like a high-spirited child running through puddles 
Making mud pies and humming to itself. 
Time was when I dreamed of growing up; 
Being a woman; becoming a bride; having babies 
And flower gardens filled with tender longings; 
And I dreamily awaited someone I knew, I knew. 
Time was when you came calling like morning dew 
And I opened the door of my soul to you.


Annie Johnson is 84 years old. She is Shawnee Native American. She has published two, six hundred-page novels and six books of poetry. Annie has won several poetry awards from world poetry organizations including; World Union of Poets; she is a member of World Nations Writers Union; has received the World Institute for Peace award; the World Laureate of Literature from World Nations Writers Union and The William Shakespeare Poetry Award. She received a Certificate and Medal in recognition of the highest literature from International Literary Union for the year 2020, from Ayad Al Baldawi, President of the International Literary Union. She has three children, two grandchildren, and two sons-in-law. Annie played a flute in the Butler University Symphony. She still plays her flute.