1

a dagger through
the elephant in the room

2

surprise picnic 
i want to cry
in a good way

3

last place finisher
on the winning team
cheering her name

4

temporary tattoo
sticks to everything
the spoils of war

5

accident at the bonfire
burned by
the hotdog’s rebellion

6

I stare at the streaks of
orange, red, yellow,
black marshmallow

7

scholastic roller coaster
pauses. . .
before the big drop

8

laughing along
to jokes made
at my expense

9

winning goal
missed
mom still buys ice cream

10

telling stories
gathered around the fire
the sky begins to lighten

11

we light a fire
and pumpkin scented candle
the coziness of autumn

12

I open the door
Takis in hand
middle school sister smiles

13

what you’ve done
are you even aware
Iscariot

14

looks like a muffin
tastes like a muffin
I think it’s a muffin

15

discarded trash
drifting
through an empty lot

16

cloud nine
then cloud eight, seven, six. . .
ferris wheel ride 

17

pumpkin
spice
sadness

18

everyone home
with their family
Mom didn’t pick up my call

19

the road to my house
curves alongside the river
surrounded by autumn trees

20

corn mazes and hayrides
are not cliche
the blessings of autumn

21

around the fire
we argue about marshmallows
golden brown or burnt to a crisp

22

freezing cold
under the starry sky
clock stops ticking

23

red, orange, yellow
leaves cover the ground
Captain Crunch

24

a simple family goes
apple picking each year
simple never existed in my family

25

back home again
what was known has shifted
half step

26

returning home
for a break
the emptiness lingers

27

one-hour playlist
for a three-hour drive
would you take me back?

28

marks on the doorframe
stretching his neck
to grow an extra inch

29

following my lead
in search of light
little sunflower

30

Fall Break
and yet
I still run into you

31

reunited
with old friends
Michael, Jason, Freddy

32

crisp autumn air
the sun gives me a kiss
maybe it will be ok

33

justifying him
to my friends
my monologue

34

homemade pumpkin pie
in a bread pan
nailed it

35

refreshing crisp breeze
indigo night
gonna need another jacket

36

crisp air fills our lungs
we talk about
what never was

37

ghost
of the woman
she was

38

Skittles and Starbursts!
I’ll trade you
all my chocolate

39

waking up
to the smell of earth
nobody can hear me scream

40

the recurring nightmare
drenched in sweat and tears
dad, please come back

41

Shit!
forgot my sheet
poltergeist it is

42

walking to stand in line
the chainsaw by my ear
makes me collapse

43

through the dark
bone-chilling scream
ruh-roh Raggy

44

shaking fingers brush mine
holding our breath
past the cemetery

45

dressed as a ghost
she haunts her past lover
toilet paper in the trees

46

driving through the storm
suddenly the glint of eyes
in my backseat

47

I’ve gotten many compliments
on my new suit
her skin is so pretty

48

for every missing person
a new rose bush
planted in her back yard

49

October 31st
i open my exam results
. . . BOO!

50

child tucked in
no monsters here
but you and me

51

medusa’s head
on a pike
you were my friend

52

choking on candy corn
two sisters
catch up

53

the smile carved
into my cheeks
a shell of a pumpkin

54

Ouija Board
It’s all fun and games, right?
R.. I.. G.. H.. T..

55

October confessional
with mom
her gritted teeth

56

cold wind
cracks the window pane
ghosts whistle through

57

Spirit Halloween
replaces the Macy’s
gap specialist