a sparkling dress
and her mother’s necklace
new beginning

bellows in the distance
father and daughter
waiting for the next round

3:00 out the window
a kitchen light turns on
at least someone else is awake too

new school
girl on the swing set
alone

dust on old boots
grandpa's coin in a drawer
untold stories

Mommy! Splash, Gasp
They surface
Sigh

back porch
off in the distance
a crackle of thunder

green grounds
FORE
hole in one

sun shine
floating down the river
mom yells

rain again
gasping
air

brothers
a bond not broken
tattoo

coach's pitching advice
just throw strikes
no kidding

cracked spine
corners folded
open once more

top hat
carrot
puddle of water

crack of dawn
the smell of baby formula
sleep deprived

popcorn and pop
dark and quiet
me and my lover

4 a.m.
sleepy eyes
baby grins

sneakers on an old road
wind in her hair
escape

by the fireplace
the old dog sleeps
in peace

upstairs
running
neighbors

heavy footsteps
greetings at the door
Great Dane

a walk across a stage
one special dance
all the things he missed

sitting in the dark
storm moves overhead
cool breeze

unusual silence
markers
soap and water

the computer screen
filled with an email
the phone rings

sitting in class
fireworks boom
can’t see shit

the cold choir room
bright colored costumes
stars

in the corner
blonde haired brat
I didn't sign that

boots left
in the ring
the dream has passed

jumping from a plane
into the clouds
silent horizon

foul ball by first base
other coach interferes
absolutely disgusted

Saturday morning
wind in my hair
rumbling motor

sinking ship
darkness surrounds us
He is gone

to the moon and beyond
I love you
son

retired at thirty
in school again
a new start

sitting in class
scratching my knee
dang weeds

brothers sleep
soundly
mom at it again

watch it unfold
the story told
over and over again

horizon glows
house is quiet
coffee brews

swinging on the porch
fall weather
cigars

sixteen years old
licensed to drive
in a cornfield

at the stoplight
a rumble
from the car beside me

small bright arena
the crowd stands to boo
life of a heel

high school gymnasium
young lovers dance
tonight as one

hundreds of feet up
a brown leaf
harvest

miles apart
moon
yogether

a dog's love—
me
food

hot summer day
little blue dress
caught in the moment

2515 A.D.
digging
a styrafoam cup

moonless night
my childhood
suddenly ended

Christmas day
reading the Bible
coffee brews

laying in bed
my head against the pillow
hopes for tomorrow

on the bed
book in hand
pup at my feet

summer night
my grandmother's hair
long and beautiful

little girl trembles
wearing a pink dress
new school

the clock ticks down
nothing but net
game over

sleepy eyes
father and son
fading off to sleep

dining room table
card game pieces
clicking together

hunting for months
the excitement
finding our new home

the bat cracks
crowd stands up
homerun

peanut butter
small grey mouse
—SNAP

convertible
Texas heat
with good friends

five thousand dollars
twenty bucks later
oil change