not quite christmas . . .
rotting pumpkin
sits on the porch

candy cane
on the wall
Christmas in November

free at last
or perhaps lost again—
the stray dog

no, I haven't
seen any handsome boys lately
come to think of it

family talks boys
I think
about girls

the lovers giggle
down the hall
it's flu season

clearing out her closet
dust covers
the old guitar

library book
reading
all of the check out dates

mom calls me at eight am
tells me to stop mentioning
that I'm not white

stars
the only light needed
for our romance

light rain
no matter
I open the window anyway

stealing a smile
she puts her hands
in my pockets

empty backpack
I send him home
with more than a pencil

clink of spoons
no words needed
to express gratitude

birds outside the window
distracting me
from multiplication

calm winter morning
wooden window pane
a frame

eternal rest
and around her neck
pearls

inspiring posters
the young minds
can't read

slowly moving
into child's pose
her head bobbing asleep

braid in tinsel
caroler
finally ready

trying to gripe about
mall Santas
a grin betrays me

the goddess of love
a white light
in our night sky

lighting candles
don't ask
don't tell

finders keepers
he says
with a kiss

night falls
music is heard as
a bar door opens

orange and green
up and down
lava lamp

the stream will flow
no matter how many
rocks are throw

pounding on the front door
nothing but a
ski mask

two birds sitting
on a wire
I look at you

new paint
new lockers
I used to go to school here?

he swings
the hammer strikes
red steel

I notice
the prettiest leaves
are all on the ground

a winter chill
limping to the field
coach says I'm done

sitting the bench
everyone's favorite
cheerleader

in this war
my toy soldiers
will be at your side

dark duck
mounts
the white

knees bruised
a rainbow
of sidewalk chalk

birds and i
swap
autumn recipes

baby shoes
worn;
but not much.

cold rain
hot chocolate
warms his heart

fuzzy slippers
just enough distance
from the cold floor

sunday morning
waking up
without an alarm

flowers still fresh
after a week
of vase life

old finger paints
what a shame
to waste

busty nightclub
us sardines
dance until dawn

broken doorknob
she kicks the door open
syringes

I didn't realize how much
I missed her
until I picked my cat up

new boots
perfect for toppling
the patriarchy

awoken by
rays of sunshine
Sunday morning

meeting
in the laundry room
secrets

angry roommate
he lost his kill streak
in Call of Duty

duck egg
among
pond gravel

lonely
i swap gossip
with chickadees

under the overpass
I practice
archaeology

panting in the woods
I look back on the trail
How far I have come!

chest pain
she can't inhale
enough November air

the stuffed duck
never leaving
the side of her pillow

back and forth with you
can't find a middle
pendulum

the string of beads
slide off
one by one

the movie
less scary
on mute

avoiding touchy topics
we try to share ideas
the fire crackles

a trip to town
for my brother—
a prison break

he coughs hard
I hug him
anyway