steaming coffee
dog-eared novel
next to the empty chair

     in second hand store
     the old pocket watch

silver tarnish
I carefully clean
grandmothers jewelry

fireplace mantle
cold on the icy day
staring into the past

     tattered photo
     the cafe

plop–
sugar cubes
splatter hot tea

late morning sun
two friends
laughing through headaches

drawing closer
whispering secrets

cold morning
only the wind
as my companion

single snowflake
I await new adventures
one person; not two

empty movie theatre
my date with Clark Gable

he fades away
I heave a sigh
now to find my husband

evening shower
water droplets trickle
down my cheek

rinsing off
the day’s grime

a fresh face
in the mirror
staring back at me

I shut my eyes
looking forward
to tomorrow

pale morning light
I stifle a yawn

bright lipstick, dark eyeliner
conceal my face
just another day

flickering light
my key
frozen in the lock

     darkness ahead
     shattered glass door
        
mysterious beep
amid
a forest of glass

mischievous eyes
midnight moon
the sharing of "Hello"s

     glowing spiral
     fireflies mate

lightning scars
illuminating
tiny rivers

     “Brothers”

in the lab
sweat on my brow
16 credits to reality

     friends forever
     live or die

love unsurpassed
army general
weakened by our command

no more games
it starts now…with you
future

     classes are not over
     plans, dreams to fulfill

come home soon
fatigues
hang on the war

Bring out the cooler
Fill it with ice
Add your favorite stuff

     Bud light, miller light
     As long as it’s cold

The fellas, the ladies
The music’s loud
Everybody’s dancing

Moving around
Cheering
About nothing

     The cops come
     Party’s over

Everything’s cool
She stayed
Tomorrow she’s making breakfast

riding horses
through the woods
side by side

     hand in hand
     forever in love

never thought
feelings like this
real and true

how long a wait
here at last
freeze the moment

     plans ahead
     complete change in my life

here to stay
never let go
forever at last

weathered fedora
battered brim raised
revealing eyes that see

     through the darkness
     the old crooner
     resonates with melodies

his songs
finally resting
beneath green earth

     clear summer sky
     looking up to see
     the angel chorus

the fedora joins the ones
who carry wings on their backs

Early in the morning
People speak
In haiku tongue

     Three line phrases
     That tell so much

A story . . .
That brings you in
Only for a moment

After it's over
Everyone's thoughts are taken
To a different place

     The emotions
     Rush in

The sounds
Of
Haiku snaps

Just the four of them
Talking
And laughing

     Everyone smiling
     About what has happened

That warm summer night
Those four roommates
Make a pact

Words are spoken
About what is
To be kept between them
 
     Silence comes over them
     And an understanding is met

Bursts of laughter
As they still think about
What has happened

     Strangers

summer sun
lotion applied
on tanned skin

     waves crashing
     with sand between my toes

looking around
sexy people
Can everyday be a summer day?

caught my eye
as she turns to look
approaching slowly

     our words mix
     with suns rays

gust of
a cool breeze
sweeps us into eternity Rengay

Wait finally over
Final class over with
Weather is beautiful

     Students walking quickly
     Everyone feeling anxious

Bags piled in corner
Excitement is intense
On my way

     Car is waiting
     Still running though

Say a few goodbye’s
Cannot wait to be out
Sitting in sun and sand

     The wait is over
     Finally Spring Break

     Fire on the Mountain

starry night
the roar
of campfire light

     tobacco spit pit
     my banjo’s quick wit

voices
echoing across
vacant land

hat tipped to brow
workday worries behind
sit down to patch my bones

     marrow
     chilled from the wind

vast arenas
canopy’s holes let in the day
nature’s nightlight

first boyfriend
awkwardly smiling
Daddy’s crushing grip

painful joke
I force a laugh

the next morning
a single bruise
graces my cheek

after the argument
a kiss on the forehead—
goodbye

empty house
familiar tears in my hair

I trace the lines
of his hand
the preacher clears his throat

     Country Road

windy summer’s eve
the crops
dance on the horizon

     my mind is wandering
     I have no place to go

warm evening breeze
a sparrow competes
with the wind chimes

     powerlines
     grid the evening sky

darkness slowly descends
over the prairie
stars light my path

     alone on a country road
     the drive eases my pain

     Summer Memories

red berry --
sunburnt child
napping naked

     dry grass
     harsh beneath bare feet

beneath the shade
of an apple tree
-- forgotten sandals

legs swinging
from branches
too high to climb

     ripple
     as the frog jumps away

tadpoles flee
as wild feet
lunge through water

     Summer Memories

big splash
little pool
arm floaties

     the sprinkler
     chases us

may day
picking flowers
ring the doorbell…run!

sitting on the sidewalk
my red Popsicle
drips in the heat

     Radio flyers
     race down the hill

laying in the grass
we point out animals
in the sky

     Winter Calm

Sledding hill
Straw bails
Blocking the trees

     Quiet forest
     White tailed deer

So pretty and white
It falls from the sky
And lands on my cheek

Pink snow suit
Rosey cheeks
Frost bitten toes

     Warm glow
     Crackling fire

Cold puppy
Lost in the snow
Home!!!

the spanish teacher
speaks to the students
in another language

     and wonders
     at their blank faces

forested park
running in the creek
nudists

     one takes
     the others clothes

late night visit
sure to cause repercussion
we kiss anyway

   in the hall
   a line of light beneath my door

flicking the lightswitch
you ask to walk
me home

   eyes staring ahead
   blue glow
   of the television

in the kitchen barefoot
i step in
mystery liquid

oozing through my toes
cold cottage cheese

crossing the street
confederate stamped pickup
honks at me

flashing lights follow
i'm booked for hooking

  The Woods

alarm goes off
i roll over
and hit the snooze

sun beams quietly
peak through the blinds

April morning
a breeze flows through
the window

a yell bounces
between buildings

a couple argues
over a simple
misunderstanding

waking everyone else
up with them