summer night
under the stars
we sleep

holding her
in the warm
summer night
under the stars
we sleep

their light
is our blanket
summer night
under the stars
we sleep

toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle

roommates cause
unnecessary anger—
toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle

“That inconsiderate…”
toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle
“…prick.”

Two week old
Colgate
Toothpaste tube
Squeezed
From the middle

toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle
i smile
slightly irritated

toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle
irritated I smile…
men

his anger
makes me smile
toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle

toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle
drives her
…insane

Toothpaste tube
Squeezed
From the middle
To form a cone
On my tongue

day after
he moved in—
toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle

toothpaste tube
squeezed
from the middle
onto the
dinosaur toothbrush

the sergeant tensing
toothpaste tube
squeezed from the middle
very very bad

hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans
the boy who
no one likes

hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans
I forget
my scraped knee

hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans
my sister
shares my childhood

with only brothers
the little girl
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

poverty forgotten
while
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

dusty photograph
three little girls
hop scotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

Braided pigtails
Of freckled sisters
Hop scotching in
Chalk stained
Jeans

only child
with pigtails
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

April sun—
sisters
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

shimmering sun
brightness reflected in puddles
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

the quiet boy
alone –
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans
determined not to fall
at 10

five minutes
to sundown
hopscotching in
chalk-stained
jeans

mother collapses
at the knock on the door--
unwanted telegram

mother collapses
at the knock on the door--
unwanted telegram
dad is coming
home

Drying her hands
From dishes
Mother collapses
At the knock of the door—
Unwanted telegram

angry he’s forced
to kill
mother collapses
at the knock on the door--
unwanted telegram

mother collapses
at the knock on the door—
unwanted telegram
delivered by
a concerned neighbor

Mother Collapses
At the know on the door- -
Unwanted telegram
Landing gracefully
At her feet

rain pouring outside
mother collapses
at the knock on the door—
unwanted telegram
rain pouring inside

mother collapses
at the knock on the door –
unwanted telegram –
summer day
turns dark

another
final sacrifice
mother collapses
at the knock on the door—
unwanted telegram

mother collapses
at the knock on the door--
unwanted telegram
…her second-born
now the oldest

the morning after
daughter’s departure
mother collapses
at the knock on the door—
unwanted telegram

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes
the boy who
no one likes

unorthodox special music
unwillingly
listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes
and rises
with the blues

sitting around
the campfire
listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes
from anger to
unnecessary pity

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes
from black
to white

Louisiana roots
Grounded in the big city
Listening to
His harmonica
My mood changes

pissed off
in a jail cell
listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes—
remembering
delta summers

deep
in the prison cell
his harmonica
my mood changes

collapsing in bed
after the longest day--
listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes

sipping coffee
listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes
to lullaby

listening to
his harmonica
my mood changes
with
the flickering of the campfire

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
soon…my breath
kisses hers

Beautiful
And uncomfortable—
Starry night
Holding her hand
I see my breath

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
but words I can’t say
burn my mouth

looking
down and up
starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath

starry night
holding her hand
i see my breath
though
i hardly breathe

cold winter evening
turning into a
starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
as it shakes
from nervousness

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
the two of us
keeping warm

Overlooking the city
Van Gough’s
Starry night
Holding her hand
I see my breath

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
in my irrelevant
words

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
wax and wane
on windshield glass

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
vanish
into the sky

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
but feel
no cold

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
tumble around
her parted lips

starry night
holding her hand
I see my breath
is wasted
on her

in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

after the party
with all of my friends
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

sparkling champagne
and her twinkling smile
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

pretending I’m
discovering Narnia
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

brighter now
than the sun
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

in the twilight
and snowflakes…
i walk home alone
but I
am not lonely

in the twilight
and snowflakes…
i walk home lonely
though I
am not alone

hoping to numb
away the pain
in the twilight and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

Commotion of the party
Fades into the distance
In the twilight
And snowflakes…
I walk home alone

in the twilight
and snowflakes
I walk home alone-
her kiss
lingering on my lips

a Nativity
glowing
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

steps silent
as whispers
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone
wondering when
it got so cold

in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone
for the first time
I shiver

in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone
trying to remember if
I have alzheimers or not…

bone-chilling-
the wind
in the twilight
and snowflakes…
I walk home alone

dead-end basketball hoop
playing
for both teams

dead-end basketball hoop
playing
for both teams
the boy who
no one likes

dead-end basketball hoop
playing
for both teams
my dad
the hero

the crowd roars
dead-end basketball hoop
playing
for both teams
the crowd boos

dead-end basketball hoop
playing
for both team
my dedication in
a garage light spotlight

broken concrete
broken dream
dead-end basketball hoop
playing
for both teams

at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

in my dorm
I am God...
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

At the party
I relate to
The fireflies
Looking for a mate
By flashing themselves

at the party
I relate to
the fireflies
too busy for
small talk

sitting
in the corner
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

At the party
I relate to
The fireflies
Who offer their light
To guide me home

heaps of
socialites
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

the only
sober one
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

voices swirl
around me
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

hope
for love
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

for the first time
all alone
at the party
I relate to
the fireflies

stood up
at the party
I related to
the firelies
rum ‘n coke

at the party
I relate to
the fireflies
being pulled apart
for jewelry

   listening
to the sound
     of     snowfall

   listening
to the sound
     of    snowfall
        alone
           with my coffee

the silence
thunders
   listening
to the sound
     of     snowfall

   listening
to the sound
of      snowfall
I dream of peace
      …and quiet

listening
to the sound
of snowfall
utterly
undisturbed

Listening
To the sound
Of snowfall
We glide
Across the ice

Listening
To the sound
Of snowfall
Notes of heaven
Grace our lashes

listening
to the sound
of snowfall
and momma’s
simmering soup

sirens shriek by
a deaf-mute
listening
to the sound
of snowfall

quietly
listening
to the sound
of snowfall
falling

listening
to the sound
of snowfall
mother rocks
her infant

deaf child
in the night
listening
to the sound
of snowfall

wintry night
on the veranda
listening
to the sound
of snowfall

mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right
but only reach
for her palm

Mesmerizing flames
I search for words
To make it right—
Why should
She trust me?

last bonfire
your eyes fixated on the
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

back and forth
my thoughts flicker
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

mesmerizing flames
i search for words
to make it right
but the smoke
chokes my voice

mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right
but rather than listen
…she burns me instead

silent dance
your eyes of
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

Avoiding the guilt
I stare into
Mesmerizing flames
I search for words
To make it right

rampant arson—
Mother stares into
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

in the brick fireplace
blue and orange dance—
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

the brilliant
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right
in the dark silence

heat of the
summer bonfire
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

seeing the bruises
I glance away
mesmerizing flames
I search for words
to make it right

early in May
I'm told
I'll be a sister

early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister
they found
my long lost brother

early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister
the puppy
I’ve always wanted

my summer plans
fade away when
early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister

morning sunshine
peeks inside
early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister

Early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister
And suddenly
I become wiser

early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister—
a Lily of the Valley
blossoms

sun shines
on unbloomed daffodils
early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister

after ten years
of peace and quiet
early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister

more surprising
than Dad’s vasectomy
early in May
I’m told
I’ll be a sister

saving the worm
from
the hook

saving the worm
from
the hook
Uncle Earl
reflects on Korea

saving the worm
from
the hook
I put him in
my pocket

already freed
the fish
saving the worm
from
the hook

saving the worm
from
the hook,
yet
he no longer squirms

saving the worm
from
the hook
I choose the chicken liver
Instead

cousin John
nods in shame
he’s saving the worm
from
the hook

Saving the worm
From
The hook
Pretending not to see
My grandfather chuckles

six years old
in muddy overalls
saving the worm
from
the hook

to her
mercy is
saving the worm
from
the hook

on a lukewarm day
saving the worm
from
the hook
clouds part

saving the worm
from
the hook
dad rolls his eyes
but chuckles

late at night
the hippie daughter
saving the worm
from
the hook

I drop
the bait bucket
saving the worm
from
the hook

chubby fingers
and determination
saving the worm
from
the hook

saving the worm
from the hook
for my garden
of onions

fishing trip
a young girl
saving the worm
from
the hook

a beautiful man
subjecting himself
to a spider’s web

a beautiful man
subjecting himself
to a spider’s web
—his wings are eaten
first

A beautiful man
Subjecting himself
To a spider’s web
Again he is tangled
in her web of lies

a beautiful man
subjecting himself
to a spider’s web
the ugly truth of a
modern-day fairy tale

a beautiful man
subjecting himself
to a spider’s web
of deceit
…and lies

the silent eve
trumpeting his steps
sidewalk salt

the silent eve
trumpeting his steps
sidewalk salt
crunching beneath
Santa’s boots

the silent eve
trumpeting his steps
sidewalk salt
ice melting
and freezing again

Santa comes in
through the side door
the silent eve
trumpeting his steps
sidewalk salt

the silent eve
trumpeting his steps
sidewalk salt
in spastic
crunch