this river
still the same
as before he was lost

only now
cooler

Alexis Dockins andKatherine Viviano

broken stump
a fence
runs through it

custody battle
bill arrives

Benjamin Brawner and Genevieve Breitbach

living in the fishbowl
I cannot help
but do nothing

they always see
my mistakes

Cori Grzenia (both hokku & cap)

once again
I fall into the trap
of his sweet talk

once again
lost in his eyes

Corrin Littlefield and Katherine Viviano

sneezing
on the broomstick
two broken teeth

bouncing across
the elegant hardwood

Emilio Tejada and Jacob Hamilton

rose petals fall
revealing scars
nobody else could see

except the man
who left them

Erica Forbes and Katherine Viviano

a firefly
hums
Marvin Gaye

on a summer night
cork from Chardonnay

Genevieve Breitbach and Jacob Hamilton

birthday princess
can't even make it
to the strike of twelve . . .

back up the stairs
holding papa's hand

Grace Ganley and Natalie Smith

talking to females
he sucks in
his beer gut

little does he know
she's doing the same

Jacob Hamilton and Erica Forbes

three ducks
waddle across the playground
just before recess

only dew drops
on the monkeybars

Joseph Pegura and Marah Kittelson

eyebrows laid
waists cinched
let's have a kiki

lock the doors
tight

Katherine Viviano and Natalie Smith

driving down the road
I used to turn left
now turning right

the stop sign
I stole the first kiss

Lauren Montesano andWhitney Gray

head out the window
smiling in the warm wind
dog-girl

boys wash a Mustang
under a shade tree

Marah Kittelson and Randy Brooks

in the car
rain picks up
turning the radio dial

I hear our song
we'll never play together

Michael Barber and Erica Forbes

2am
a stupid idea
her eyes light up

and he falls
further in love

Natalie Smith and Corrin Littlefield

early morning
one by one
lights turn off

I pick up
empty cups of foam

Noah Klumpe and Alexis Dockins

dinner talk.
What will we look like
in heaven?

grandma asks
to be excused

Taryn Pepping and Jacob Hamilton

darkening trail
ice caps appear
through the shroud

not a light
in sight

Tyler Trzcinski and Emilio Tejada

masked in shadows
the crow calls
three times

to hear nothing
but his echo

Whitney Gray and Michael Barber

rabbit nest
the crow returns for
the last one

high up in a tree
a tiny crow falls

Randy Brooks and Cori Grzenia