Karen Marie Haas 

Taylor, Pennsylvania 

Occupation: Certified elementary teacher; currently substituting and private tutoring. Poetry: Editor's Choice Award from the National Library of Poetry for the past four years, published in several of their anthologies, lifetime member of the International Society of Poets. Personal Note: I started writing because of my sister, Kim. She made me realize that any goal could be achieved if you had the passion to go after it. Through my writings, I've been able to keep the memories of her alive.

Sunshine 

Your eyes that once shined,
Your smile ever so bright.
Could lighten a dark room,
On a cold December night.

So we must remember,
And I will never forget.
That, at one time,
Even the most beautiful sunshine must set!

Mathematical Poem

13-7-5.5-15.5 12.5-3.5-15.5 13-7-305-13

9-10.5-14-5.5 13-3.5-8.5-5.5-12.5 3.5 9-10.5-13

10.5-6 14.5-10.5-12-8.5.

13-7-3.5-13 9.5-13.5-12.5-13 4-5.5
13-12-13.5-5.5,

12.5-7.5-10-4.5-5.5 7.5 9.5-3.5-5-5.5

15.5-10.5-13.5 6.5-10.5 13-7-12-10.5-13.5-6.5-7

3.5-9-9 13-7-7.5-12.5 14.5-10.5-12-8.5

8-13.5-12.5-13 13-10.5 13-5.5-9-9

15.5-10.5-13.5 13-7-3.5-13

7.5 9-10.5-14-5.5 15.5-10.5-13.5!
 
 

My Heart 

In the distance I hear empty chords
Of a memory I once lived.
I see it moving across my mind
Like dancers leaping to new heights.
Life was simple back then
Since everyone held the answers.

Now I sit in a blizzard of confusion 
And search for the answers of life,
Looking beyond the mountains in my way
Only to find empty fields and valleys.
It is then I realize where the true answers lie.

I no longer stare out my view door,
Instead I look at the reflection it holds.
That's when I find the place with the answers.
It was always there for me,
Just as it is always here for you.