I call knowing you won't answer
just to hear your voicemail
I know you'd answer if you could

your perfume
mixed with cigerettes
it's all i've got left

family cemetery
I always visit you first
I owe that to you

family lake house
after a day of boating
aloe vera

something so precious
burns me
pizza

following the dotted lines
west bound
wherever the road takes me

forty minute drive
just to find
a pair of pants

blankets covering
the livingroom floor
failed fort

screaming and banging
on the door
just going to the bathroom

stepping into the box
she batters eyes
at the pitcher

ocean wave
erodes our names
in the sand

under the Nashville stars
country music plays
inbetween innings

prospering leaves
hold on
the strongest winds

our darkest times
sparked up with talk
around the campfire

a kick from inside
a gentle reminder
to drop the hostess cake

under the stars
fingertips
in the roots of your hair

my soul mate
the hide-and-seek
champion

football butts
the real reason
tis the season

world war II
in the microwave
never smelled so good

she reaches
for a kiss
he pulls back, playfully

the kids surround
the slowly dying
worm

beer bottles
become
baby bottles

doctor's news
I stare
right through him

she closes the door
of the not to be
nursery

purple pastel
her eyeshadow
matches spring flowers

binge eating
like every meal
is my last

walking slower to class
soaking up
the sunshine

the gust of the wind
the glow of the moonlight
something sparkling . . .

floral patches
on my ripped jeans
I get to flaunt

she reads her a story
a cat and a butterfly
quarreling

sleeping together
in the same bed
so distant

waiting . . .
for the rainbow
this never-ending storm

as you lie in the casket
I remember your
butterscotch candies

in the Poncho
he tries to run
but he cannot hide

True Romance
Jackie Brown
The next Tarantino movie?

snow on the ground
ice on the highway
but it’s April?

i'm
sad
isfied

I told the flowers
what i'd do for you
they blossomed

hard pill to swallow
when I know
you'd be my number one fan

walk with me
she has that look
— SMACK

watching the kids
run through the sprinkler
i love them

fluttering by
       the dandelions
she hears a meow . . .

masking what what
I wish
you’d unmask

coffee grounds
the one thing
I can control

up and down
the wind carries her
through the clouds

the ball falls
right into my . . .
face

opening presents
wrapped for someone
who won't see Christmas

my dog's leg
running faster
than his snore

table set up
pong ball
splash

last call
a druken stupor
falls out of chair

with all this school work
a nice spring nap
under a tree

the priest raises his chalice
the children
don’t quite understand

I retie his sneakers
for the fifth time
since we came to the park

Frosty’s carrot nose
now resting
below his waist

camping
we bathe together in
the river

his truck bed
my blanket
our stars

why such a big deal
when she baits
her own hook

tucked in bed
somehow ending up
on the kitchen counter

sliding across the court
stretching for the ball
a rolled ankle

snailman
my ears bleed
goodbye

a snake wriggles into view
then sticks its tongue out at me
the nerve!

slowly waking up
and then my heart stops
I'm late again

tiny trees
pop out
of my pillow case

in the back alley
a spray paint smiley face
grins

tumbling in the dryer
warm, crinkled
dollar

a child’s glove
dripping with wet snow
plopped on the dryer lid

cut off t-shirt
mud between my toes
simpler times

tension sifting
further and f u r t h e r
down my spine

clean laundry in bed
reminds me
*vacancy*

obstacles much larger
than the rockwall
the playground

hiding behind
the camera lens
he sees it all

picking up sticks
orders from dad
building a fort instead

box of chalk
I open the cardboard top
powder settles on my fingers

first day of preschool
his daughter
clinging to his leg

my cat talks to me
I hate the things that it says
it has an accent

caught again
standing
in the rain

hair in a mess
wearing my worn out t-shirt
she's perfect.

passing leaf
lands on the window
only to blow off again

front porch rocking
the sun
warms my toes

grass spiders
throw up webs
to save the eggs from rain

spring sunrise
a velvet buck browses
the alfalfa

seams of the baseball
leave their mark
on the pitcher's cheek

finger tips
brushing away
April snow

light rain
umpires meet
to deem the game playable

forgotten post-it
found on the back
of your favorite book

running from his apartment
the buildings towering
over her tear stained face

a breeze in the fur
of the dead squirrel
a pretend resurrection

discussing topics
others would find strange
I'm in love

brisk walk to class
squissssh
poop under my shoe

sweater in the morning
until the sun
takes it off

while the earth
comes crashing down
unbothered pillowtalk

the toddler lays
sound asleep
with man's best friend

conversations
between
her & her tomatoes

drinking away
away my sins
on Good Friday

flip flops and sandals
break out
of their coffins

wildfire roaring
rumors pass
even faster

old comic books
stacked in the bathroom corner
emergency toilet paper

two pencils and a desk create
a snare drum solo
detention

unsatisfied needs
she asks me
to write a poem about her

fingering the necklace
that lives
long after
she’s free

shower
not being able to tell
if I’m still crying

softly tucking
my favorite stuffed animal
behind my pillow
before his arrival

faking a smile—
I’m fine
without you

scalding coffee
keeps my hands warm
walking to class

restless
in my bed
made for two

we make a cute couple
you play the guitar
I sing the song

daytime is mine
nighttime is yours
midnight is ours

annoyed boyfriend
she's been taking selfies
for the past hour

spring baseball
hand warmers one day
shorts the next

looking down from above
he watches her
grab his favorite flower

empty diamond
floppy ears behind home plate
squatting to relieve himself

watermelon bowl
laying down
on the surface of the sand

yellow yachts
near the shoreline
where the seashells cluster

red wine and cheesecake
we dine in together
on the roof

the wilted flower—
the only sign
time continues on

white flakes
cover the writing
on the stone

buzzing phone
calling all family
to his bedside

the little girl sprinkles
flower petals on top
the descending casket

staring at a grave
with your last name on it
who is next?

finally
able to retire
the thick coats

breaking out sandals
to happily walk in
. . . snow

car ride home
the three year old yells
a four letter word

windows opening
out goes
my seasonal depression

painting her face
tying her shoes
the dancer performs
I reminisce on
my favorite tu-tu

his voice does to me
what autumn does to
t
 r
  e
    e
       s

air dried hair
napping in the sunshine
mother and daughter