last day—
a worksheet
left on the desk

home late
your shoes
not at the door

in the dark—
my husband checks
his phone

Easter dinner
he wears long sleeves
hiding the needle pricks

bandaged arms
his little sister
calls them lion scratches

mental hospital
crazy eights
they play cards again

fake flowers
they’ll never die
he says

her mirror
a movie
midnight tears

saving earth
another post
with your plastic straw?

flooding day
watching from my window
houses under water

Walmart trip
6 foot line of people
behind my back

my grandpa's car
a neighbor complains about
the smell of fumes

under the jacaranda
my yellow skirt
now dotted purple

blurry
she reaches for
another tissue

a cap and gown
musty
unworn

just to admit
that i was scared
saved my life

the vrumm of the blender
creating homemade slushies
no need to go out

with everything aligned
I start to feel
whole once again

when the mirror
says we are older
the love won't stop

wear the makeup
so, they like you
but do you like you?

nobody's home
the creaks in the house
louder

the sunburnt stripes
on my feet
tattoo from the sun

old couple
watching the love birds
at the duck pond

she giggles
her lover's voice
in an empty room

I leave the darkness
to follow the moon
sunrise

we sit and chat
and you get mad . . .
you do not own me

moon light
darkness clears
the path

dinner table
bears the weight of 
conversation

chaos
I dream about 
tornadoes

coffee
the only thing 
i look forward to

blocking the sun
with a blanket
the windows lack curtains

a black spider
occupies me in the shower
who’s invading whose home

writing in the planner
days are filled
with nothing important

my father singing
a tune
the dog listens

the sun coming down
to give me a kiss
I wish it was you

mystery can
it fizzes. popping
the case wide open

thunderstorm 
he tells her
the truth 

silent campus
the bronze man
frowns

summer bike ride
in the sun
i cover my scar 

pantry doors
left wide open
she’ll be back for more

coffee cup ring
on the letter
graduation information

in a war about
how I look this week—
bloody hell

attempting to cook
I feel crumbs
beneath my feet

brushing the dogs
hair & dirt
tornado

snowflakes fall
we forget
how to drive!

building sandcastles
in the hot sun
the tide rolls in . . .

cookies on a whim—
substitute applesauce
for butter

leaves become brighter
in the sunlight—
we sit on wicker chairs

drifting on a memory
ain’t no place I’d rather be
than with YOU.

One day
I’ll have a
Partner, not Project

It’s okay to be sad
DON’T
stay sad

hair shorter than before
the wind still gives it a       toss

a fallen tree across a silent creek
two sit
on their    own    branches

another day
wishing we would know
when life returns

cool spring breeze
speaking to me
through the window

the ocean
inhaling and exhaling
at my feet

daily routine
feeling around my chest
no lumps

saturday night fit
wearing a top
that fits the mold

the smell of
cleaning supplies,
a new beginning

the oak
extends its branch
care to talk?

the plastic yard flamingo
left leg
exhausted

I lost the date
Monday to Monday
at home

glass door
staring outside
—wasp

save the date
the envelope
unopened

calendar 
stuck
time refusing to pass

first date
my lipstick
matches his flowers 

cheddar corn
caramel corn
piercing my gums

hidden moon—
the chair turns
into a person

another day
staring through the unwashed window
the border between us

"i want you to think about something"
stern but not angry
"am i in trouble?"

surrounded by old people
listening to the stones
living my best life

the green light
flash
pay attention

click click
the sound of the keyboard
just you and me

moonlight . . .
the smell of vanilla
in his hair

no sleep tonight
endless scrolling
through TikTok

wagging her tail . . .
my lap
is her fortress

I walk alone
to clear my head
of you

a summer breeze
hits my nose
aaachooo, it’s just allergies . . .

the words you spoke
lingering
last night's sunset

sandy bottoms
they pack up
the umbrella

panic—
the bikini bottom
sinks to the sand

hospital gown romance
their chairs close
on movie night

so tell me about yourself
he asks . . .
as we sip on drinks

the smell of vanilla
on her skin
he kisses her neck . . .

alone
in my bed
where's my other half?

wave after wave
washing the memories
           A
             W
                   A
                          Y

by the end
of the relationship
my sunshine was gone

saw through
the magic
youth in a casket