listening to the whispers
of the wind
she relaxes

napkin note
pbj again
made with love

she raises her hand
calls me mom
strange word for her lips

i call, i stop, i listen
the river in the background
                 calming

standing still
as the wind whispers in my ear
                         freedom.

old classroom
i now stand
where i once sat

breakaway
one ball, two players
double scissors

prom night
corsage, given
to no one

red and blue lights
drown
my neighborhood

into the suitcoat pocket
I slip
a breath mint

fireflies roaming
stuck . . . in the middle
which way to go

prom dress
in
the dress up box

leaf
in the puddle
murky water

in darkness
the candle’s flame
flickers in the bath water

blazing fire
under a blanket
fireflies dance

pile
in the corner
unwashed clothes

home alone
phone rings
heavy breathing

torn dream
rainy night
firefly drowns

one sided story
unhappy—
she says

palms sweaty
            dry mouth
new speech

gym shoe feeling
no grip
grandma's slippers

peace and tranquility
is at hand
early autumn morning

first summer
moved with the waves
together

open ears
grandma lectures—
perfect cookies

nap time
snack time
i want my mom

spelling test
         but outside
a cherry tree

holding each other
tighter
through all the scary parts

new money
big parties—
still not enough

shoveling snow—
swimsuit
on the shelf

biting my thumb over
six deaths—
a weekend love stoy

monkey bars
he kissed me
         cOoTiEs

my voice carried
by the wind
messaged received

date night
wine bottle
stood up