MAG A Piano Softly Plays | hear a soft melody as we whisper little nothings, Like the sound of ivory keys pressing together. Darkly lit tables, cups of black coffee, And tales of loves lost forever. How to say | love you, while | stutter simple verse. How to bear my anguish, when | mutter gentle words. Your scent reminds me of a night long since past. Of lusty passion when | was not so lost. Your lips tease my tongue as you drink your wine, As the piano softly plays a song | once knew. “Shall we dance?’ you ask me. I meekly reply, ‘Of course.’ Your velvet gown crushes against my wanting body. | feel the sweat bead in your delicate hand. Your head rests against my shoulder. My hand across your thigh, as ebony faintly sounds. From the floor we wander, and dangle hand in hand. The piano plays a simple tune, a prelude to a band. The candle at our table burns and flickers out. We still sit and talk of times long since past. We have been left alone as the others have before us gone. But before |, too, should share their fate | must have yet another song. The ivory presses together, the ebony faintly sounds. And the piano softly plays a song we once knew. —Anthony N. Chandler I | Z pb Ay ii i f eal Pye : Dinette hg \ v f\ (| (| Se Aysiey / weyes e}09IN :14NdeID ND ONS Nature’s Call A humming bird comes to my door And hovers just outside, Drinking nectar from its feeder While humming with such pride. A pretty pink pine grosbeak Comes next to eat some seeds, While finches cling to dandelions Even though they are just weeds. The robins sing among the trees While blue jays give their call. They seem to say to all their friends, “Come over one and all.” Overhead the cowbirds come In numbers too vast to count. They flitter among the treetops Till skyward do they mount. The air is quiet once again, A hush in nature’s hall. A moment only does it last, Then a sparrow gives its call. —Alice L. Gallant My Final Request All| ask Is that you remember the truth Never believe | was cheated by life Or say “What a shame to die so early”. True, | struggled But | had some good times, too. And | saw life through the eyes of the young As well as through the old and the tired. All | ask Is that you do not blame yourself Every act that angered me in life | grant forgiveness, in my death. Please do not pretend To know what was wrong _ Which led to my eventual destruction. All ask Is that you remember my pain Reach out your hands to the children So that not one more need feel alone. If you loved me Take the time to cry But remember to learn from this Life is hard but filled with lessons All | ask Is that you hold fast to life Hold no anger in your heart for me. My final request? Let me go. —Janette Callbeck [xpress january eleventh 994 page 10 It was not one loss, but the loss of hope itself, _ gently with a silk scarf (Basic Instinct aavic a slightly aifferent perspective Dear John: | think you are the hottest, sexiest, smartest guy on campus. How would a single girl get in touch for some “one-on- one” personal counselling? - S.Y. Dear S.Y.: Who the hell do you think you are? Hands off, girl! This is Jane, John’s girlfriend. | think it’s time for me to introduce myself. | am here to answer what John can’t and to give helpful hints and advice. [She wants to stick her nose in everyone else’s business. - John] Dear John, I’ve only been in classes for a week and I'm already failing. What should | do? - Not on the Dean’s List Dear Dumb, John: Go home, give up, get a life. Jane: Wait a minute! It can’t be that bad. Go talk to your prof for advice- a little sucking up never hurts. Dear John, My boyfriend is a sercia Catholic and lama Protestant. We've been going out for years and both want to have sex. The problem is he refuses to let us use birth control. What should | do? -P.D. Dear P.D.: Jane: Take the pill and don’t tell him. John: Have you ever heard of the “mucus method”? And if he is such a devout - catholic, why does he want sex before marriage anyway? Dear John, | bought my boyfriend a nice set of handcuffs for Xmas, but he won't use them. He thinks it’s kinky and disgusting, while | think it’s sexy. How can I convince him otherwise? -Kinky and loving it Dear Kinky: ; The first time Jane brought them out, | was intimidated too. Break him in without the ice pick).