single mother’s solemn grief
forced to feed . . .
penniless

lighter fluid
on the picnic table
overgrown playground

overgrown playground
on the picnic table
lighter fluid

jalapeno fumes
five minutes
to choke out the punch line

choking out
the punch line
hot jalapeno

your toothless cat
bites my toe
still it hurts

insomnia
the television
flickers

flickering
television—
insomnia

the silence
of his eyes
speaks to me

the silence
of his eyes--
"speak to me"

his silent eyes
say
everything

"speak to me"--
his silent
eyes

silent grief—
his green
eyes speak

the fleeing silence
of his eyes
flees onto mine

he won
Scrabble
with
I love you

he wins Scrabble
with
ILOVEYOU

insomnia—
my dog
snores

insomnia—
wide awake watching
my dog dream and shake

wide awake
while my dog
snores

my dog
snores—
insomnia

one plus one equals two
I doubt myself
is it three?

is it three?
I doubt myself
one plus one equals two

dusty gravel
in between the stalks
seemingly alone

playground sand
between my toes
a bat sweeps by

brand new deep freeze
saving summer's flavor
flooded basement

on the interstate
policeman passing
golf clubs in backseat

moving back home
I forget
that coffee table was there

moving back home—
I forgot
about the coffee table

moving back
I forget
that coffee table was there

home for the summer
my bed smells
unfamiliar

summer vacation
my bed smells
unfamiliar

back home
even my bed
unfamiliar

unfamiliar smell
of my bed—
summer vacation

unfamiliar smells
from my bed—
summer vacation

moving pictures
while we cuddle
laughter

eternal dreams
forgotten…
before 8 a.m.

8 am . . .
dreams now
forgotten