1

Gene Kelley
I try to imagine
tapping in puddles

2

doves in separate trees
would you like to live
with mom or dad

3

now I’m allowed
but far too tired
the mysterious path

4

peach juice
from a thimble
summer memories

5

wait for me
I’m right behind you
taking your picture

6

roads to home
the trees rushing by
familiar faces

7

2:00am
the living dead catches up
on homework

8

cancelled therapy appointment
maybe i should
vlog

9

to think the face
in the mirror
was the monster all along

10

empty room
the way i left it
the way you left me

11

crack in the floor
boarding
the next flight home

12

sharing a day 
first time since college
pumpkin patched

13

waking up
Abuelita
to sweet bread

14

our future
I could see 
curdled milk

15

using chords
to explain my life
for sale, baby shoes

16

alone on the balcony
waves crash on the beach
him, just out of reach

17

frog’s croak
I remember to
drink water

18

you think I’m annoying?
sorry 
I don’t speak gaslighter

19

bittersweet silence
I blow an air kiss
matcha latte

20

applause
to the rhythm of the butterflies
beating wings in my belly

21

clairvoyance
and self-doubt
match made in hell

22

clunky brakes
of the Volkswagen Beetle
waking up

23

i glance over
my past lives
that smile isn’t real

24

lost boy
he never found
Neverland

25

phone call
from an old friend
cough syrup

26

prayer candle
for sale
never used

27

Mercury retrograde
oddly
I talk too much

28

mother asleep 
on the couch 
I tuck in her feet 

29

tilted head up
like a child
less stars than before

30

through the glass door
behind the fire’s reflection
cat left out

31

my mom lives in the kitchen
her love pours out
every dish she makes

32

I’m sorry
What did you say?
I don't speak gaslighter

33

autumn trees line
the country road
to my new home

34

I gave you half of my day
making your
favorite soup

35

midnight snack 
I don’t know the path 
anymore

36

black shadow 
in darkness 
purr

37

38

falling
          from
               the
                  sky

                      Icarus

39

didn’t listen close enough
have to start ag-
have to-
have to st-

40

the new owners
find two small headstones
Penny and Kirby

41

autumn
all my favorite desserts
. . . pumpkin flavored

42

stomach flu
puking in the yellow bucket
while mom makes me soup

43

my darling child
swaddled on my lap
wiggling ferret

44

grocery shopping alone
I select
the lone banana

45

waking up
to the alarm not set
silent walls

46

finding my face
on the back of
a milk carton

47

summit Everest
softest climb
on ten piles of laundry

48

at the bar
grabbing a drink
. . . with my dad?

49

going to the party
the introvert awakens
crawling under the covers

50

the pink, white, yellow
of the flowers
my tears fill the vase

51

grilled cheese and tomato soup 
cream soda 
home 

52

an ember escapes
we giggle
and cuddle closer

53

dolls once
prized possessions
priced on eBay

54

I feel comfortable 
hugging strangers
thank you mom

55

orange salamander
curled up
among the glowing coals

56

bartering aesthetics
over practicality
Pokémon cards

57

mom’s rice
attempted
but never replicated

58

empty apartment
I allow myself
to take up space

59

cotton candy dreams
when I wake
you will be gone

60

cleaned the living room
for no one
but me

61

my favorite game is tag
my little sister asks,
What is that?

62

our trauma made us
best friends
my sunlight

63

she knew two languages
assigned to a lifelong job
her personal interpreter

64

hands gliding over fresh sheets
cotton folds 
to the shape of you

65

sun beams
the tilt
of your inquisitive brow

66

dreaming . . .
astronaut? pop star? deep sea explorer?
English major.

67

I told you
no.
growing pains

68

changing pains are not so hard
with a friend
peeling oranges

69

when I was 12
I was introduced to coffee
my mother’s eyes

70

florist tells me I’m
one in a million
Secret Garden

71

moved away to find my true self
But I think I
left her at home

72

afraid to say
your skin is married to mine
a hiccup through your spine

73

dad’s apartment
dinner time
burnt quesadillas

74

depression dungeon
I have the key
if only I could get up

75

visiting dad
in grandma’s basement
divorce

76

thrift store
pocketwatch
grandfathered in

77

I want to hold you
with all my diameter
rose quartz

78

pouring rain
hot dog still tastes
just as good

79

that prick Jimmy
smiles and leans in
“Santa’s not real”

80

I stopped playing
with fire . . .
is this adulthood?

81

summer night
the river
runs slow

82

the breath you take
when finding the words
loving you is

83

orange peel
expertly shedding
the happy facade

84

I'll be writing
biographies for you
till the day I die

85

Two-Face
favorite villain
every friend

86

the inlet of your palm
collecting rainwater—
buckets at the windowsill

87

a crooked hand
the covers
pulled tightly around you

88

rolling out suitcases
I leave my imaginary friend
behind

89

babe babe babe babe babe
it’s just you 
and your 5 other personalities

90

you’re falling for me?
oh my . . .
get up then.

91

evening homework
someone else’s laugh
echoes from the kitchen

92

figuring out
life on my own
yearling black bear

93

peering into the dark room
like a horror movie
where I’m the villain