1

Thanksgiving Break
a new tradition 
we stay home

2

avoiding grandpa’s touch
long talks
I can’t escape

3

thanksgiving dinner
every year
less family

4

driveway full
of unfamiliar cars
a new uncle every year

5

awkward chatter, 
empty seats
at thanksgiving dinner

6

deep dish pizza 
chatter in the restaurant
we are family again

7

grandma’s house
her beagle
still loves me

8

sibling laughter
as mom calls
cap

9

falling into old routines
she joins her mom
to walk the dog

10

grandpa's talk
never ends . . .
I stuff my face

11

dry turkey
mash potato overload
another roll please

12

granny’s house
sitting on the floor
playing games

13

coffee shop and pretzels
new additions
to Main Street

14

football on Sunday
we gather
to eat the leftovers

15

hiding in the bathroom
again . . .
Thanksgiving dinner

16

my shoulders stiffen
as that uncle
reaches for a hug

17

piepiepiepiepleasetakeithome

18

i linger 
in the upstairs bathroom
a minute longer

19

stretch marks
right before
the feast

20

making excuses
not to visit . . .
I had time

21

one table now
the extra folding chairs
stashed in the attic

22

one plant left
an orphan i’ll bring home 
to mom

23

thanksgiving day 
all I want 
is pumpkin pie

24

endless blooming
where it shouldn't be growing
scar tissue

25

candy jar
the first thing i see
at Nana's house

26

older brother 
for the first time 
looks older

27

pajamas all day
in a quiet house
such a busy day

28

so many dishes
to choose from . . .
my plate is full

29

crowded street
filled with . . .
where am I?

30

full table
I sit
at the counter

31

frozen in
a stranger
shovels my driveway

32

secret santa
gifts from a stranger
I know

33

thoughts put down on paper
quickly typing my ideas
I slayed the assignment

34

burning ashes 
there’s still 
work to be done

35

dark already . . .
does the moon
get tired?

36

huddled together
sobbing
our favorite show

37

fuzzy blankets
afternoon sun
I’ve made no progress

38

every move I make 
I lose 
more aura 

39

three appointments 
two repairs 
two-day break

40

a young couple 
try to stop and eat 
at each family gathering

41

67 . . .
is all . . .
to make them laugh

42

butterfly 
I spread my wings
my first tattoo

43

food passes in circles 
I wait patiently 
for the deviled eggs

44

a stranger 
I wonder what
their life is like

45

moldy bread
we feed it
to the fish

46

fresh snow
we take forever
to shovel the driveway

47

red clearance tag
you are so
coming home with me

48

another coach
ruining 
what I used to love

49

winter midnight
the heater’s hum
keeps me company

50

reflecting rain puddles
the stoplight
changes twice

51

one glove
still
in your backseat

52

i blink twice
her hair
is just like yours

53

comforting embrace—
in a crowd
the only one who understands

54

sunlight gone
a warm lamp glow
illuminates the pages

55

abandoned playground
I go down
the slide

56

playing a favorite game
realizing i’m washed
after three losses

57

quarter zip
matcha and tote
peak perforative male

58

garbage bin
without a bag
saving the planet!

59

a familiar face— 
oops, 
false alarm

60

the villain’s pawns
we call them
henchmen now . . .

61

sus assignment
i notice signs
of ai generation

62

in the grocery store
a stranger
complements my perfume

63

stacks of assignments 
due in a couple hours 
cooked

64

drive thru window
the car ahead
pays for my order

65

need to lock in
but I'm going delulu,
time to crash out

66

the sprinkler sprays
across the yard
we leap for hours

67

star-crossed lovers
      the sun sets
on the Southside too

68

prom night
caught in the mirror
barely recognizable 

69

drive back home 
singing nostalgic songs—
a sigh of relief

70

teenage fugitives
watch the sunrise
nothing gold can stay

71

blurry eyes —
a stranger mentions
his wife’s miscarriage

72

summer camp
I hear “skibbidi”
in the wild

73

leaning against one another 
our blankets overlapping
we drift to sleep

74

circle of salt
ex-boyfriend can’t
get back in

75

local store
I catch a glimpse of
a familiar stranger