season is over
what to do
with all this free time

the last raspberry slips
nestling in the pile
red and orange leaves

the smallest things
bother him the most
crooked outlet cover

bicycle squeaking older than me
fresh bread
from the corner store

feeling down
for some reason I think
sad music will help

crumbling castle battlefield
I could almost feel the arrows
rocketing past my skin

home videos
every christmas
do I really sound like that?

snow on the car hood:
a little girl carves
a picture of Santa

raging river rapids—
icy water fills up
my new tennis shoes

my little buddy
falls asleep in my arms
bad dream

the waterfall
separates the mountains
an eagle soars above

the glistening pond:
a pebble slips from her hand . . .
and hits the bottom

dirt surrounds my vision
glove hits my leg
stolen base

70 mile per hour pitch
I see the worn-down seams
coming by way

chilly Sunday morning
get out of my bed
only for a quick pee

in my happy place
we smile together
      shhhh

breathing in
      warm summer breeze
            sigh of relief

gleeful splashes
come from the pool
I walk back to the elevator

the bright red apple
in the palm of her hand
            summer

wind grabs
the heat of my body
one last serve

working out
all the negativity
a quick 6 mile run

the soothing sound
of rain on my window
I drift off to sleep

New Year's Day
making false promises
to myself

Easter
Jesus Christ Superstar
all week long

petting the old cat
three tumors
in her belly

he sings to himself
when he thinks
I’m not listening

lunch with friends
no one mentions
the one who’s missing

learning to cook
our favorite meal
for one.

first bloom
we walk side by side
kidnapped

halloween candy on sale
i’ll start my diet
tomorrow

a figure
standing in the shadows
streetlight goes out

long day
coming home to
a pile of dishes

my phone dies
while on with the operator
in the trunk of a car

superman socks
he confronts the bully
during math class

stargazing
putting our heads together
to see the same star

family dinner
my sister uses a burrito
as a microphone

a child tries to salvage
his ice cream
lost to the ants

yellow lighting
my body gives in
to the plush cushions

end of a long day
look in the mirror
missed a button

old baseball glove
duct-tape
covers most of it

two fish in a tank
does either know
how to drive it

authentic mexican restaurant
the boy orders
chicken nuggets

first baseball game
rosy-cheeked child
sits on mom's lap

comfy, over-sized
t-shirt
she hides her insecurities

walking away
maybe the referee
won't know it was me

dust in the combine
we listen to classical music
a flurry of activity outside

staring at your empty seat
I pass myself
the peas

soft breeze
from the whiff of the bat
over the plate

thump       thump
my head resting
on his chest

feet up on his dash
my eyes flutter open
to his smile

bike ride with friends
wipeout
bike walk with friends

cracked phone screen
he storms
out of her house

her fur coat
she tries to hide
the bankruptcy

playing Beethoven
for my family
mom looks down and smiles

a broken record—
Mother says
"Clean your room!"

hiking down the
woodland path . . .
leaves rustle

driving through country—
the sorbet sunset     fades
to black

Turkey day
my grandfather calls dibs
on the gizzard

Halloween office party
masks everywhere
but no costumes

ironing board
I try to straighten
my life

Christmas morning
new toys
no batteries

the last flicker of light
the old puddle
of honey wax

a new baseball mitt
waiting for dad to play catch
he doesn't show

hiding in the
shadows—
kittens wait
for the return
of mother

thunder rolling
i burrow myself
deep into bed

baseball mitt up
too late
black eye