1

tarot cards on the coffee table
her quick glance
who are we today?

2

stomach in knots
her name missing
from the ribbons

3

school bag
packing her unopened valentines
first grade

4

skipping Friday classes
saying goodbye
childhood pony

5

a peach so ripe 
i peel it with my fingernails—   
lightning cracks outside

6

slay, little sister
wear your fishnets and sweater
wear your defiant smile

7

the smell of sweet
rotting fruit
the children run and laugh

8

fire embers dance in the wind 
a shaking smile
my dad tells me he's proud

9

chocolate eyes
my new favorite color
brown

10

my best friend
you can rest now
see you on the other side

11

moved out
cookie cake for dinner
because i can

12

last day of senior year
the car door closes
my mom knows my secret

13

walking on the treadmill
i want to slay
this summer

14

come a little closer
slaying all my fears
in the dark night

15

waiting and waiting
and there we go . . .
snow day

16

dreaming about
what will slay me
finally

17

fogged up glasses
wearing masks everywhere
is it gonna ever end?

18

curling my unruly hair
a little too much hairspray
a major flop

19

he finds in Julia
what she lost
in Romeo

20

no way
do i look that good
in this outfit

21

remote control
in most ways
was my childhood

22

love handles
freckly knees
I want to be friends

23

all eyes on me
i stare straight
ahead

24

high heels on ice
another day
another slay

25

my dream wife
kissing that scruffy face
my dream husband

26

I realize now
there were always      cracks
in the fantasy

27

these are
designer lips
hunny !

28

screams
from audience left
remind me I am loved

29

porcelain angel
in her hands
I hope she takes good care of it

30

slay
the house down
boots, yes, God

31

flailing unafraid
it is just us
on the dancefloor

32

her voice fills my body
with light
I am still.

33

adulting
a cold beer
in the shower

34

just keep drinking
someone will think
you're cool

35

shoulders back
chin up
i am confidence

36

walking in the snow
catching snowflakes
in my tiny hand

37

elementary school
a Hannah Montana backpack
and my broken ankle

38

black and pink shoes
walking quickly to class
my favorite teacher

39

forehead red
waiting for things
to go right for once

40

goes to school
her bills are paid
slay, queen

41

if I had a tail
it would be wagging
for his cute, floppy ears

42

Christmas drag queen
Santa's sleigh?
no . . . Santa slays

43

snowy street
the hike to
higher learning

44

caramels, nut clusters
empty trays
unwanted vanilla truffle

45

staring into the mirror
repeating my affirmations
. . . slay queen . . .

46

new recipe
the middle still gooey
what a flop

47

gazing into
brown eyes
tv static

48

everyday
crawling closer
to the finish line

49

gap in the center of the closet
sharing shirts
matching sizes

50

we’re using a Macbook
as a mirror
—cuz’ we’re rich!

51

don’t be
            a flop:
glitter and be gay!

52

face glistening
       like a glazed donut;
death dropping the haus

53

too good for drugs
seeing my family
in the child's drawing

54

push-up bra and lipstick
putting glitter under our eyes
college party chic

55

delete delete del
when will i learn
to trust my own mind

56

muffs? on.
world? out.
ready to slay the day

57

quiet nursery 
please 
make a sound

58

brown puppy eyes
she flops
into my arms

59

fresh cut grass
new bat
Play ball!

60

rainbow flags—
cut down 
by verses

61

kissing the apple,
she asked:
have you gotten your first kiss?

62

the light of the sunset
in the horizon
your green eyes on me

63

bright lights
awaiting the results
holy shit i won

64

cupcake
I wonder what it will be
damn, another brother

65

dinner with grandma
ice cream for dessert
every time

66

you smell like flowers?
you must be a Disney Princess:
Rapunzel

67

you smell like flowers?
you must be a Disney Princess:
Rapunzel

68

eyes across the room
for me?
oh . . . for him

69

begging you
to hold my hand
in public         are you embarrassed?

70

a small chapel
he belts
he smiles
          under his mask

71

on the Marley
he falls
out of the pirouette

72

the whistle blows
crashing water
everyone disappears

73

sunny morning
starry night
nothing left to give

74

ears
bigger than her head
my best friend

75

Kindergarten
do I like her curly hair,
or     do I like his curly hair

76

cracked china
too late
to juggle it now

77

stretchy smile
the pit
in my stomach

78

lights up
I step into
someone else's shoes

79

cast list
she finds a name
she recognizes

80

entering the auditorium
the ghost light
sends a warning

81

crouched in the corner
slouched on my seat
I'm lost

82

cruising summer boat
Beatles tunes
in dad's lap

83

planner filling up
no time
to myself

84

old, dark wood
smell of history
in art class

85

talk radio in the distance
my grandpa
enjoying a summer day

86

can you keep
a secret?
me neither

87

the birds start screeching
I click ‘Submit’
head to class

88

i wipe away my tears
alone—
inside the stall

89

walking to class
running to class
oh crap, i forgot my mask

90

wilted wild flowers
over grow
the play house

91

my last semester
what will I do
with all the time

92

many colored pens
pretty colored highlighters
does this make studying easier?

93

oh, to be a cat
that bathes
in the sunlight

94

waterfall baptism
my reflection slipping
through my fingers

95

an oasis
this apartment with our
bookshelves

96

I click submit
finally I feel
relief . . .