Car door shuts
Ready to play
We race to the swings

Hot seats
Who can swing higher?

A woman and her dog
Flip a Frisbee
Tongue hangs sideways

Slobbery disc
Flies over the fence

"kiss the cook"
sizzling burgers
are flipped on the grill

picnic table
scratches our legs

sidewalk imprinted
on our knees
an egg fries

a pan of hot food
slams against the wall

he chugs a beer
as she inspects
her swelling cheek

in the closet
I hide from everyone

Box of band-aids
strewn on the floor
none big enough

therapist tells me
journaling cures all

laying in bed
late for the interview
empty refrigerator

Epson salt everywhere
Picked up by hand

Scrubbing
the dirty floor
baptizing the rag again

on my knees
I leaf through the gospels

Bible study
lips rolling over
A new spitball

Chilly wind blows
Against my backpack

Bell rings for lunch
My crush
Bumps into me

Burning tears
At gym class

Soggy Kleenex
Shrouded faces
Watch the casket descend

Nervous insomnia
Full house reruns

Engine roar
We yell and scream
monster truck show

Stick cotton candy
In my hair

Rated "r" movie
High school kids
Throw snowcaps

Summer afternoon
We eat butter-glazed popcorn

Playing house
Inside our igloo
made of toilet paper

Christmas day
The baby wads wrapping paper

Toothless and homeless
He huddles under
The cardboard box

Sudden collapse
The bookshelf gives way

White porcelain pieces
Scattered on gray carpet
Holy Mary figurine

Mother's pearls
Around my neck

Eighteenth birthday present
Grandma's wedding ring
Too big on my finger

Midday nap
Necklace spilling from her blouse

Soft lapping
Against the keel
As we watch the orange horizon

After the sunset
We make our way home

•••