brand new swimsuit
powdery white appearance
turning a bright red

sticky aloe
cracks on my neck

warm shower water
layers of skin
s l i d e down the drain

drying off
lotion not helping
to get rid of the patches

a SLAP on the shoulder
white handprint

cooler in hand
head for the beach
SPF60 in my bag

long drive home
open road
dreaming of warm weather

friends having fun
laying on the beach

sitting
doing nothing
all day long

bar hopping
sun tanning
only plan is to have fun

seeing friends
wanting to hear stories

planning trip early
never again
going home for Spring Break

crook'd walking stick
buckling
under its weight              

soft sounds--
in saying nothing
he says everything               

tired hands
moldingcold steel
fireworks               

white lines
on a blood-spotted mirror

camera clicking
harmonizes heals
cityscape echoes

        shuffling quickly
        his cards; his feet

robin’s return
to ungrown grass
sepia snapshots

        vibrant voices
        store clerks; street performers

cds, tapes, and cigarettes
unlicensed solicitors
always take the train

        double exposure
        light damp

sudden shower
covering my head
with his coat

        forming puddles
        four darting footprints

darkened day
holding hands
our smiles linger

        white porch swing
        her head on my shoulder

windows open
frogs serenade
spring rain

        dripping clothes
        from the bedpost

sandy beaches
neverending blue
spring break

flipflops and swimsuits
tan lines develop

sun blaring
skin peeling
no worries…

right hand
freezing
ice cold beer

sun slowly melts
out to the club

partying all night
leaving
when sun rises

no clouds
in the sky
blue sea

beaches and girls
forever…ever more

hot, hot sun
no lotion
blazing heat

sunset is near
head to the club
excitement in the air

just one more drink
then hit the floor

carried home
cold tile floor
still up at nine

A Trip To The Alcohol Store

list in hand
money in pocket              
keys on the table

he zips up his jacket      
key in the ignition

only shopping cart left
two broken wheels
dirty yellow handle

alcohol aisle
cart filled with beer   
screeching sound from the wheels

cashier station…    
I.D. and money

loading the car
cart tipped over  
broken bottles everywhere

birds chirping
in the morning
alarm clock

rain pouring down
puddles become lakes

spring flowers
bright yellow
blends with the sun

robins eggs
cracked under the tree

april showers
bring…
earthworms

new life
grows into summer

Ode to Junk Food

jelly-filled…
chocolate-glazed…
one of each

Saturday night
dessert before dinner
peanut butter ice cream

unwrapping the foil
revealing my prize
Eskimo Pie!

movie theater popcorn
smothered in butter
greasy fingertips

salt craving
crispy, crunchy
onion rings

mustard and onions
on my cheese dog
on my t-shirt

Adversity

yearly holiday dinner
busy friends gather
to slow down time

snow falling thickly
disrupts the tradition

ice on the road
two friends stranded
…miles from home

frustrated phone calls
plans rearranged -
nothing is ever simple

courageous caravan
braves the storm

sitting down to eat
everyone smiles…
together

The Return

open road
spring breeze drifts
through the backseat

searching through music
trying to fill
the hours

two empty cokes
bladder bursting…
I floor the pedal

rest stop
faceless travelers
sip cheap coffee

counting the miles
the sun sinks
lower in the distance

tops of trees
brushstrokes
against the sky

familiar sights
the last hour
feels like three

unpacking the suitcase
the smell of home
lingers

old boat motor
whirring in its tiredness
…stuck on the dock

KABOOM!
sparks of excitement drown

splash…
boat full of onlookers
off us a cruise

all aboard—I leap starboard
kerplunk!
my sandal sets sail

holler in the distance
a ski tags our bow
CANNONBALL!!!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho
a pirates life for me!

Nameless

sipping tropical drinks
with hundreds of men…
nobody will know

sand between my toes
i dream

palm trees sway
miles away…
he leans in

one drink
too drinks
where do I stop

sharing a sunrise
names never shared

long trip home
secrets to keep
from the one

Romance

quilt of color
warm underneath
with the dog at my feet

fire blazing
the wine glasses clink

snow cascading
softly outside the window
he holds me tighter

heart beating rapidly
their eyes meet

abrupt movement
suddenly alone
chills run through her body

empty box
ring on her finger
“I do”

cool spring sun
together-
"people watching"

       two women gossipping
       as they speed walk

short chained leash
the dog
takes his owner for a walk

       mother and son
       chasing each others shadows

arrogant jogger
showing off
trips and falls

       PDAs in the park
       BARF!!

summer night concert
our song
we dance under the stars

walking home
we enjoy a moment of silence

under the stars
I look into her eyes
and see her soul

dropping his gaze
she turns away
a tear

a secret
kept inside
starting to show

our love grows
with the child

cheer me on
the stage-
I dance

sunshine
on empty fields

tractor ruts puffs
a dandelion puffs
over cracked earth

skin tightening
yellow rays

lemon juice
drips…
down my glass

midmorning sunbeams
your lies

The Singing Dutchman

time passes
I hear the click
of the clock

he’s singing again
God I hate vocal majors

too lazy to walk
the practice room
…is so far

Oh God!
he’s singing
20th century music!

in “A” flat
“Do they scorn me now…
I wonder?”

the cat
stares at the door
he can’t take it either

Coal the Cat

the cat
fixated on my
tapping fingers

pounces with….
tiny razor teeth

the kitten
too small to do damage
I fling him back

the cat
sniffs a shoe
preparing for the pounce

a tiny gray blur
leaps through the air

this kitten is vicious
but determined
I continue to tease

Spring Break 2004

Spring Break
an ocean view
only in my mind

     cold wet rain
     never-ending downpour

15 minute tanning session
doesn’t compare
to unlimited sunny rays

trapped in Decatur
no money
no hope of being with you

     day dreaming of memories being made
     without me

flood of rain
I settle
for relaxing in bed

Red corvette
the smell of new leather
as I slide into the seat

starting the engine
the exhaust rumbles
and the signals change

fresh tires squealing
as I pull from the line
leaving the other car far behind

the speed increases
the sights become a blur
approaching the finish line

the police car pulls out
sirens scream through the air

he writes out the ticket
I sign my full name
and awake from my dreaming

spring drive
smoke bellows
through AC/DC

warm rain
my heart beat
quickens

bare feet
soaking in
fresh lawn clippings

soggy socks
in muddy shoes:
sudden shower

rolling green lawn
growing again
after spring rain

a child sleeps
as daffodils
sprout

First Signs of Spring

fresh cut grass
two butterflies
flutter on the flower petal

     fly flies by
     eaten by a frog

worker ant
carrying food
twenty times his size

     baseball soars
     he races to first base

parents scream
it begins to rain
everyone runs for shelter

     sun peaks through
     a rainbow fills the sky

Silent Drifter

a midnight moon
bathes the earth
diamonds beneath her feet

     sparkling stars light the way
     a path has now been chosen

following wolf tracks
through the trees
destination unknown

an undisturbed trail
the crisp smell of snow
reminds her of home

     scent of firewood
     a place not yet

forgotten
the wayward traveler
ventures onward

Crush

napkin doodles:
hearts with arrows
all crossed out

disco ball lights
dancing over
new found romance

heart spilt
in a letter
I will never send

warm rain
my heart beat
quickens

your hand
brushes mine—
cheeks flushed

full
body
smile

Growth

hips swaying
dust under feet
cheek besides cheek

April sunrise
we say goodnight

private corner
lakefront view
my pinky finds his…

lingering scent of summer
in her hair

my rough hands
caressing hers—
skin of velvet

romantic Sunday afternoon
each reading the paper