one path in the trees
I look down
at my own two feet

closing
the door to my room—
finally, silence

lonely bleachers
I sit and remember
my last game

old man
the only visitor
in the cemetery

empty spot
on the pillow
cat gone to stretch

light turned off
no one
coming home

old, creaky basement
folding my laundry
in silence

laying in the grass
the clouds
turn into elephants

Cubs behind
the fans quiet
until the big hit

the goose waits
patiently
for bread

bare trees
holding onto
the last green leaves

looks exchanged
breath held
for the last out

killing time
watching
ants go by

oldest ring
of the tree
on the outside

I can hear the cheers
not only in this house
but the next, and the next

a maple leaf
falls on my head
I smile as I pull it off

I pick up the mantis
he waves
when put on a tree

what do they do
with the losing team's
jerseys

the silent field
in the starry night
What was that?

a small flash
of raccoon eyes
in the trash

grasshopper
from leaf to leaf
he hops

tall grass
a large deer
closer than I thought

feet pounding
on the pavement
two more miles

Lincoln statue
watches the cars
on Main Street

whistle blows
players collide
on the football field

tornado siren
sends us scurrying
missing dinner

the only comfort
during a tornado
fresh brownies

four friends
intermeshed in red and blue
notenoughroom

the couch opens up
I don't move
away from you

mind blank
cool water rushes past
gliding breaststroke

vandals
repaint the house
a pleasant yellow

abandoned beaver dam
sticks falling
back into the creek

two years
and I still
hear your laugh

hurricane path
ripped-out trees
the sunrise now visible

dark alley way
moonlight reflects
off the homeless man's tin can

technologically Amish—
falling behind
in the job market

old man
slacks tucked into
his galoshes

salt on a pretzel
all in
perfect cubes

hot summer day
grilling
by the pool

scrapes and scratches
the signs
of a great day

this rain
pulling me down
as it falls

winter gloves
waiting patiently
in my closet

3rd grade class party
brown paper bag
bursting with valentines

leftovers:
birthday cake
still on the counter

I shouldn't
have worn
my favorite jeans

old dog snores
curled
at the foot of the bed

city mutt
face turned up
at the snowflakes

her silhouette
in the sunset
which is more beautiful?

phone rings
again I get
your voicemail

struggling to open
his umbrella
the rain doesn't care

four legs
holding up
her entire life

lamp on the nightstand
lacks a bulb
lacks a purpose

fresh snow
broken only
by a single footprint