1

fresh bangs
frame my face
the reflection a stranger

2

slowing to a stop
the trophy case
full of my ghosts

3

yellow flowers
bloom again
for now

4

waiting for the phone
to ring
         all-clear

5

she doesn't call
I don't call
no one answers

6

childish songs
fill the air
my teenage sister

7

painted rocks found
looking for
the perfect hiding spot

8

this crooked walk
known as a gimp
God why this limp

9

anger
it consumes me
broken dry wall

10

all was still and then
air bubbles reached the surface
showing signs of life

11

picture-perfect
the warm glow of
wild flowers

12

crisp cool morning
sipping coffee
on the porch

13

bronzed skin
tan lines starting to show
what's on the inside

14

anxiety
fills the room
no one else feels it

15

Friday night friends
weak coffee
strong minds

16

curling hair
Taylor Swift in the background
what to wear

17

tiny blades of grass
to cover up
what might have been

18

Thursday.
morning coffee awaits
on the counter

19

sunny day
kids playing outside
lunch time

20

a stern voice rumbles
one toe on the floor
flex of a muscle

21

moonlight shinning
glares reflecting off the window
dogs howling

22

nine o'clock
always a kiss
goodnight

23

wood barn
sways & rattles
will today be the day?

24

heels click
green jumps
what a lucky day

25

baby kisses
cuddles so tender
i am home

26

eyes filled with tears
leaning on mom
1 year anniversary

27

walking up to Casey's
picking candy and snacks
card denied

28

squealing
of the tires
how many more times

29

this hill
must go up
must go down

30

late for work
heart racing
it will not start

31

dog on a leash
a squirrel in the distance
oh no, here we go

32

rioting and protesting
COVID-19 outbreak
the land of the free

33

cracking fingers
nervous
no reason why

34

covered in bugs
I am uncomfortable
time to go home

35

grown up
too fast
I want to be a kid again

36

pay day
I need to pay the bills
broke again

37

the sun rises
human rights violated
       who's next?

38

driving by
the golden arches
self-control

39

the time has come . . .
white lab coats
fluorescent bulbs

40

blisters on heels
from stiff shoes
anything to be beautiful

41

curly to straight
straight to curly
never happy with reality

42

a bicycle
can be tandem
with enough duct tape

43

tiny dog
scared of thunder
curls under my feet

44

children laughing
when did the trees
. . . grow up

45

snowy path
a trail of footprints
check points

46

late night text
we journey
to get ice cream

47

sweat dripping
putting in work to improve
high jump

48

my elderly mother
a story
about her daughter

49

broken heart
text messages rolling in
she responds

50

a girl looks . . .
to her black clothes
instead of his

51

six used cars
in the yard
one empty battery

52

driving away
one night of breaking
healing coffee when i rise

53

little boy
and his French fries
a day with Mommy

54

up the stairs
catching my breath
will I make it on time

55

vacuum car
pump gas
windshield wipers going fast

56

summer night
smoke in the air
crushed cans

57

comfy sheets
feet touching
I know I'm safe

58

fingers interlocked
I look over at my boyfriend
the sun sets behind him

59

how are you
what have you been up to
sidewalk talk

60

final moments
holding grandpa's hand
Deal or No Deal in the background

61

late night
tip toeing through the house
a light goes on

62

buzzing in my ears
tiny bites all over me
I want to go home

63

rain pours
romantic movie on TV
I miss you

64

fresh salon hair
expensive perfume
date night

65

plus or minus
blue line or nothing
life changes

66

light beams through the trees
I sit and take it in
calmed by the fresh air

67

people pass by
old benches
on a worn path

68

significant achievements
a speck
in the sky

69

middle child
fighting for
the front seat

70

upon entering work
I pause . . .
to put on my mask

71

away from home
our son has gone
wearing combat boots

72

daughter asks
so innocently
do you see what I see?

73

friday night lights
crowd roaring
a hug from grandma

74

solid cedar wood
couch scratches
a cat's blank stare

75

change clinks quietly
in a tin can
barely heard

76

sunflowers
far away
only weeds

77

playground full of woodchips
no children
quarantine

78

                  he runs ahead
        then lingers behind
the group

79

your smile
as bright as the sun
i wear sunglasses

80

birch tree bark
   peeling away
the past

81

drinks dropping
people falling
it's going to be a long night

82

warm summer rain
my fingers
become raisins

83

blinding lights
eyes are overwhelmed
take 5

84

echo
heard from a mile away
potato launcher

85

silent snowflakes
going door to door
helping neighbors

86

he's sleeping
a message comes in
who is she

87

Jones sodas
mom says no more
sneakily opening the fridge