The sun warms my heart

The wind stirs my mind

My kite dances to the music of my soul

-Gloria Wells

There once was a man from Japan,

Who flew tricks but they never would span,

When they said "But the tricks don't go with the flicks",

He said "Yes, I know, but I always like to get as many tricks into the last part of the routine as I possibly can"!

-Jason Litchford

There was a young craftsman named Peter,

whose kites, all agreed, were much sweeter.

"But the prices!" they shouted, and enviously pouted;

(but Peter ain't quit building them, needer!)

-Mike Dooley

A comely young kiter named Musto, 

Who induced in the fly-boys much lusto, 

Was a crafter of Roks, very "out of the box", 

So the boys watched her kites, not her busto!

-Mike Dooley

A kiteflier name of Gillard, 

Who was blessed with a bit o' the bard,

Decided to found the best E-mag around, 

Now he's buried in prose by the yard!

-Mike Dooley

BAD DOG

My kite has fallen

A bad dog has mangled it

Upon it he piddled

-Shawn Shotzberger

ROOFTOP

Here on my rooftop

Flying kites above the street

Kids in strollers see

-Shawn Shotzberger

ECLIPSE

My kite blocks the sun

I watch my private eclipse

Standing in shadow

-Shawn Shotzberger

BEHIND MY BACK

Kite launches early

Now flying behind my back

Aloft without me

-Shawn Shotzberger

AXEL

Kite spinning quickly

Tumbling with twisted lines

Learning to Axel

-Shawn Shotzberger

NO WIND

There's no wind today

And gray clouds obscure the sky

Great for drinking beer

-Shawn Shotzberger

A Vision To Fly

She sits in wait as tension mounts.
She grabs the wind and holds it tight.
She arcs and climbs, turns left then right.

Her wings purr, then growl, as she pitches and dives.
Her breast heaves forth with arms stretched wide.
Her poise bares notice to her winged pride.

Her lines, her cut, her color, her grace.
She shares the sky with wind and light,
and with others so brave as to taste such flight.

She's free to soar and forced to land.
For her limit is found in just one little thing.
In the vision of the one who is holding her string.

-Lanny Bordage 11/99

There once was a kite flyer named Tom

Who couldn't get his kites off the ground

He fiddled and failed

Until someone suggested a tail

Now it flies so high it wouldn't come down.

-Thomas Reid

KEEP LOOKIN' UP!

when I look up

I see the eyes

the wisps of hair

I remember the good times

the smiles, the laughter

keep lookin up !

remember

a father

a loved one

a friend

REMEMBER !
KEEP LOOKIN' UP !

-Terry McPherson

You're stressed from day into night.

At the end of your rope? That’s alright!

Look to the sky

And soon you’ll see why

Now smile as you tug at your kite!

-Jack Beekman

There once was a guy from New Brunswick

Who had a kite, but could not launch it.

He pulled and he tugged,

But then he just shrugged.

“With some wind, it would be more responsive.”

-Chris Bordage

I had a kite and I wanted to play.

So I tried to fly on a windless day.

But I still get a twitch,

when I think of that ditch,

That I backed into, that cold morn’ in May.

-Chris Bordage

"Flying"

This is the time I miss you the most
These silent moments before we take flight
Those of us who touch the sky
My mind wanders and I think of you
We hold hands and look into each others eyes
I touch your lips and you smile at me
The summer breeze blows in your hair
These wonderful times

At once my mind is distracted
A rush of passion urges me to fly
Once again I spread my wings and take to flight
My body aches as I climb higher
Soaring and diving in a musical ballet

And above the clouds we dance
Things that cannot be on earth
Find truth in the sky

And in the wind I call your name
I say I love you and
All the world can hear

And on the wing we risk all
Like the eagles passion fall
We trust with our lives
And we love with our souls
And we touch in the sky

Stronger on the wing
I reach to the ground
And though I may be judged
I can smile
For I know that I have flown from the heart
And we have shared this moment
And this piece of the sky
Together.

-Bob Childs, 1991

We hope you have enjoyed the poems as much as we have here at KL. Now, for the prizes!

Shawn Shotzberger: custom tie-dyed Synergy "333", from Buyakite.com

Chris Bordage: "Zephyr" Windmill, from Cutting Edge Kites

Thomas Reid: Dynamic Sky Lites, courtesy of Gravityworks

Lanny Bordage: Turbo Bee Windtoy, from Cutting Edge Kites

Mike Dooley: Set of es/55 Blue Line, from BBS Tech

Jason Litchford: Dynamic Sky Lites, courtesy of Gravityworks

Gloria Wells: Turbo Bee Windtoy, from Cutting Edge Kites

Terry McPherson: "Ultra-Lites", from Gravityworks