Second Place Winner: Monica J. Chattaway   Like Velvet To The Dry Skin            For F. LeBaron   White muslin mists swirl around This Northern Ocean And I think of you - A rough fabric, sandy, gritty, Waiting for the seam of water That bright hemline of tide To wind you into the rustling, coaxing, The gently draping of movement. And I think of you travelling, running Down the coast of California On grey roads, stitched together with that Unifying white thread - The green of that coastline will assault you Like velvet to the dry skin - Make echoes of things we learnt together Dangle like loose threads, Knotting the mind. The different grey roads you'll travel Down that speaking coast will remind you Of the movement you should feel. Not this ripping. Back to July/04 Winners Home