after school surprise
               the family
has a new member

winter morning
the clock struck nine
i’m late

brotherly love—
blurred pink vision
stitches

under the tree
searching for toys
     nowhere in sight

Mom says
kiss the children goodbye
       warrants being served tonight

cold sweat
where is my mother
i’m all alone

catch
the friend screams
touchdown

the boy raps
his friends dance
the boy's mom yells

unlit room
toys scattered
a wet pillow

at the top of the stairs
jittering feet
pine tree glows

hair floating up
feet holding shoulders
struggling to rise

the girl runs
the boy chases
along the beach shore

crisp fall morning
girl rides her bicycle
looking for a playmate

legs in the cart
mother arranges coupons
groceries pile up

the sewing box
collection of a life
broken blue button

a board game scattered       glares fixed on the winner

              neighborhood I once knew       gone

snow day
giggling cousins snuggle up
for grandma's story

entering
the deserted banquet hall
chocolate syrup-lined bowls

mother’s strong arms
           carry
the empty baby seat

lovers kiss in the back
buttery popcorn
spilled on the sticky floor

fire roaring into open sky
body quakes
medical staff rush to help

autumn arriving
on one knee
I kneel

night after night
     he sleeps on the couch
          instead of his bed

bright summer light
nine children
run around the playground

walking in snow
downfall covers our tracks
lost

rope swing slows down
the children gather
for grace

outside the tent
        sticks
dipped in the candle

the green grass
rich with leaves
a rake lays by itself

dad casts the line
                    I wait
for a tug

Prairie Farm milk
can’t find the expiration date
welp

sick of school
stay in the bed
          pretend

fire lit home
all the cousins dog pile
on grandmother’s bed

family ducks down
sounds come from outside
gun shots

on a cozy couch
flooded with grief
I unpack my thoughts

fall practice
breezy summer morning
a fresh pair of cleats

looking back
through the stormy window
      you’re gone in the rain

window open
late night summer mist
caresses the face