kitchen table—
last night's ice cream
smeared on her sleeve

the front door
always locked

earring
stuck in the carpet
finds it with her toe

soggy blue jeans
not quite dry
sticks to her legs

afternoon sun
warms a square of couch

keeping the light
on
at night

• • •

red brick
he runs the chalk
across the wall

through the window
she smiles

streetlamp
flickers once
twice

three times
he says
I love you

running through
the parking lot

the traffic 
stops 
for us

• • •

midnight drive
the road disappears
in front of us

tire tracks
turn too sharp

late night kiss
he tastes like
love and cigarettes

front porch
the man on the street
never looks up

cleaning out
the overflowing junk drawer

first snowflakes
melting
on the concrete

• • •

old nail
where a picture
used to be

iron fence
crying autumn rain

broken windshield wipers
coasting through
raindrops

phone rings once
twice
dial tone

pretend flowers
in a fake vase

sweeping up
broken glass
without shoes

• • •