A Nonet* in Praise of Poetry By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate April is the designated month that we raise up poetry’s worth. What if instead we shared it every day? Spoke words that lift another’s heart? Rhyming or not, poems can say open up! *A nonet is a nine-line poem, the first line […]

Dear Lisa By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate Dear Lisa, Thank you for keeping your hands warm inside me, for clearing out used Kleenex and those little paper pebbles that were once Starburst wrappers. Thank you for allowing me to cradle your prized beach stone, so we can both touch it and calm ourselves […]

Hi Mom, I’ll Be Back             a poem from saved Post-It notes By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate Hi mom, I went for a walk I had to go to the store I’m doing a yoga class in my room I’m at the photo shoot, back at 12:30 Hi mom, I’m at my exercise class […]

When The Moon Taps Your Window By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate New year, new dreams. Nothing can stop you but fear. Let go old lies, tired excuses, lingering regrets. Look with wide eyes and hear with full ears. Know what you don’t know. Then, when the moon taps your window, calls your name, […]

To a Seed in Winter By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate You, a birdseed on fallen snow picked in the clutch of a chickadee’s beak, a feathery herald who carried you from your icy bed to a simple home, the now-bare branch of a sugar maple, which not long ago, held flaming red leaves […]

Some Days By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate Some Days Some days, I am mired in piles of my own making paper, boxes, empty jars I am saving. Old journals, birthday cards from my mother ancient love letters. Add to all that, judgments, dreams, wishes, regrets— the weight of all I have done and […]

Mid-Summer Serenade By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate A little wren went gently on the breeze, flittered| up into the tree. A day at the lake wind on waves, sand in my shoes, I ponder the clouds. What makes a day good? Gratitude for all the things. Mostly, nectarines. Out by the farm fields […]

Haiku for Students and Poets By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate The breeze already cool, as fall and school approach. Sharpen your pencils!

Four Haiku for a Day in Summer By Lisa Vihos – Sheboygan Poet Laureate The day begins hot. Breeze can hardly move the air heavy with summer. The blue jay moves fast from tree to tree. What is he looking for? Not me. Early drops of dew that sparkled in morning light, now gone in […]