mountains
fresh powder
warm fire

fresh powder
on the mountain
warm fire

moutains
heavy with snow
warm fire

heavy snow falls outside
warm fire inside
marshmellows

Snowy peaks,
Fresh powder?
Or warm fire.

distant whistle
graffiti rolling on toward
industry

industry whistle
graffiti rolling on
the backs of trains

casino table
the nice man
steals my wealth

casino table
the nice man
ends my streak

casino table
the nice man
takes my chips

blackjack table
a polite dealer
collecting player’s chips

slot machine
watching my coins
fall away

midnight thunderstorm
between two semis
down the mountain

midnight thunderstorm
two semis
steer down the mountain

white waterfalls
rising above it all
superman

clumsy fingers
undo the back of a dress
playing dolls on grandma’s backporch

grandma’s Porch
girls play dress up
with their dolls

ball diamond
mother nature
little boy cries

first t-ball game
rain spoils
little boys dreams

snooze button
mommy stops
for the beautiful sunrise

beautiful sunrise
mommy hits
the snooze button

the beautiful sunrise
mommy stops
hitting the snooze button

beautiful sunrise
mommy stops
snooze button

beautiful sunrise
mommy stops
another hectic day

30 minutes
longest drive
in your arms at last

in your arms at last
a short drive
seemed to last forever

football
in the yard
brothers

brothers
tackle football
in the farmyard

Sunday afternoon
backyard football
family tradition

Sunday afternoon
backyard football
family tradition

homecoming—
backyard football
brothers

backyard football
a homecoming
of brothers

the brothers
muddy yard
football

in the yard
brothers play-
football

13 folds
they cry out
dressed in black

they cry out
dressed in black
as 13 folds are made

dressed in black
eyes shedding tears
folded flag received

13 folds
mother cries
in black

black dress
we cry
13 folds

September
arrival of a puppy
training begins

September
training begins
when puppy arrives

yellow puddles
           No! Bad!
puppy training begins

training begins
early September
with the arrival of my puppy

training
my new puppy
early September morning

training begins as
yellow leaves fall
new puppy

yellow leaves
on the ground
new puppy

September
playful puppy arrives
Crate training begins

early fall
puppy arrives
training begins

too young to go
he slips away
she promises to wait for him

too young
he slips away
she waits for him

he slips away
too young
she promises to wait for him

she promises to wait
as he slips away
too young to go

new moon
the boy runs
flashlights chasing

new moon
boy runs
chasing flashlights

new moon
boys chasing
flashlights

summer moon
boys running
flashlights chasing

flashlights chasing—
as the boy runs
under the new moon

new moon
flashlight tag
the boy runs

flashlight tag
the new moon watches
the boy run

flashlight
the boy runs—
new moon

rain pelts
tarps cover me
like home

Sunday after church
cold, winter rain
abundance of unfinished homework

dreary Sunday
homework undone
in abundance

after church
winter rain
unfinished work

Sunday
cold, winter rain
unfinished homework

Sunday afternoon
cold winter rain
homework

cold winter rain
on Sunday afternoon
homework

falling snow
singing carols
presents missing

singing carols
under falling snow

snowed in
no presents
under the tree

snowed in
shivering
singing carols

from the front porch hooks
our relationship swings
on a dime

late afternoon sun
living room floor
a dog snores

snoring dog
beaming afternoon sun
across the floor

living room floor
a dog snores
in the afternoon

late afternoon
in the warm soon
dog snores

lazy afternoon
lying on living room floor
dog snores

afternoon sun
reflects on the floor
dog snores

a dog snores
on the living room floor
in the afternoon sun

warm sun
shining on the floor
as the dog snores

warm dog snores
             in late afternoon sun

afternoon sun
streaming in
dog snores

little girl in pigtails
running and skipping
dressed in white and veil

pigtails—running and skipping
precious memories
wedding dress

my little girl
saunters
dressed in white

dressed in white
my little girl
wedding march

white dress and veil
girl with pigtails
running and skipping

baby girl
stench
first diaper change

baby girl
first diaper change
daddy’s last

baby girl
daddy’s first diaper change
unbearable stench

first diaper change
dad
holds his breath