fallen angel
where did
you come from?

yellow school bus in sight
a new student hugs her lunchbox
to her chest

kitchen counter
tiny hands swatted away
from the candy bowl

rainy Thursday
son playing soccer
we cheer

being Italian
wondering who am I
in the family

an only child
his dog
forever a best friend

baggy eyes
last night’s pajamas
sunny side up

church choir
talking children in the pews
flicked on the ear

knock knock knock!
bright sunshine
one eye open

tiny black skirt
dark eye make-up 
two pigtails

small girl cries
mother is gone
no faith

mother hen 
with a house full of kids 
no children of my own 

front door open
friends come and go
a second home

cold beer and laughter
barbecue smoke lingers
on our clothes

a gentle river
on the banks
we roast marshmallows

the smell of barbeque
shuffling cards
with families reuniting

string of lights
on the Christmas tree
angel in the snow

pin striped pants
mud stain
mosquito bites

gliding through water
ripples turn to waves
relaxing

colorful kayaks
coasting in clear water
a family

midnight rain
wet and cold
feeling incomplete

watching caterpillars
do they know
how much more they can be

crisp air
cousins playing hide-n-seek
rosy cheeks

snow falling hard
warm under soft covers
mom whispers snow day

gathering a pile of leaves 
talking to myself 
no one in sight 

disabled brother 
leaves me alone 
to play in pile of leaves

one last summer barbecue
laughter gets louder
sunlight lingers

sunrise over the ocean
sipping coffee on the balcony
one woman jogging on the beach

a deep sadness
he wraps his arms around me
a new beginning

overwhelmed by trash
urine on the floor
a new puppy

bomb pops
blue lips
smiling faces

cold shots to the back
fire hydrant water
in the streets

thinking of her
on a rainy day
silent home

stepping stones on the creek
a confident step
soaked shorts

purple porch sunset
my cigarette slowly burns
alone at last

once again joined
getting married
to the whole family