dances at the door
gotta make it to the bathroom
. . . too late

tell me a secret
no one will know
why do I need to lie?

dry Sahara
the lotion
I left behind

night draws near
an elderly woman
plays the lottery

Dear Lord,
may the odds be ever in my favor
post semester prayer

the ravenous look
in her eyes
burns in me

I switch the tassle
next year
1st grade

my voice
echos silently
lost in stars

my lord please help
you said you will never leave
I need you now

prized pig
the hog
is nice too

birthday of a newborn
family gathers
flowers bloom

the salty kiss
toes curl
in the sunrise

unbridled laughter
knock
knock

shadow play
a little boy's
contentment

stepping on
dog poop
karma

babysitting
the cup
untouched

her hair defies gravity
her melanin illuminating
she is
A Strong Black Queen

sometimes
its not about what you say
but—
what you didn’t say

love
a splinter
in the foot

bittersweet behind my teeth
red for some
I prefer white

crisp beer
a scorching smell of old furniture
Touchdown!

pressing the button
nothing bad
can happen

“you’re funny,” he says
ten minutes
one joke

graceful execution
the stripper’s
arabesque

magic lamp
twists her words
into curses

audible smack—
mom shows him
what worked on her

pleasant ringtone
I don’t want to answer
it means she’s gone

rocking chair
baby falling
fast asleep too

grandma
picks her teeth
with child bones

tiny fingers
tiny toes
not a peep as he sleeps

first date
essentials
chin hair check

two
love birds
sitting on a branch

frog lips
she sneers
he’ll stay that way

good skin
nice body
does that make you you?

cloaked in red
the wolf
plays dress-up

flashing lights
they’re alive
fireflies

porcelain
the doll blinks
in the dark

salad
a feast
for rabbits

shots explode
I pass
the gravy

summer night
just one more
dizzy eyes

blizzard warning
the dark haired woman
pours tea for dwarves

are you satisfied
or do you wish it was
me

summer night
a bon fire
chat

toys spread out
on the floor
nap time

hair grows
out of the tower
the princess jumps

I draw the same
as when I was five . . .
less well-received

ravens
in the trees
whisper conspiracies

autumn breeze
a raincoat
puddle jumping

slyvia plath
screams on my shelf
enlightenment

waking up
the smell of
mom's cooking

pistol put away
no fingerprints
on the trigger

wrinkled hands
tight in mine
the demanding clock ticks

sirens
blue and red
inside the foggy road

lighting strike
discussion
ends up a tragedy

float like a butterfly
sting like a bee
The World’s Greatest
a moment of silence

he holds me tight
as we say
goodbye
the rest . . .
unspoken

the bend in my back
span of my hips
the curve of my smile
glow of my heart
Black Queen
I AM

charming
when I want to be . . .
that one time

beach chair
sits deeper and deeper
in the sand

downward dog
can’t reach my toes
pass the chips

front yard turns upside down
and right side up
again!
again!

arched back
head down
stretched arms
downward facing dog

the dog pose
is not
for me

blood rushing
short quick breaths
back under for the next lap

as I cry on this floor
no wait
let me get my ass up

lifting iron
not for the pleasure
but for the pain

the empty monster
always hungry
your heart

deep breath
smelling the grass
the pain is gone

to lift or not to lift        the drumstick

young boy does the splits
old boy groans
getting off the couch

zero altitude
climbing
my body

a slow bouncing jog
followed by deep breaths
meditation

frigid morning air
my feet are pounding
not as loud as my heart

sweating like a rainstorm
looking in the mirror
hard work pays off

legs in the form of a pretzel
soul lifted high
more room for air

whimper
muffled
last set

sunlight dapples
the wooden planks
just breathe

bees buzz
in my bones
I refill my mug

dark blue jeans
rolled up from dirty feet
dangling

days slowly go by
I see my goal
Ive yet to reach my potential

running
down the path
is it mine?

sweat soaks
through my shirt
how many more to go?

the balance of
holding on
and letting go

melodic give and take
night time
flossing

nasty florida water
I need bottles
this is too much

blister covered feet
ankles swell
the medal sparkles

20 pounds
15 pounds
. . . maybe I should start with 5