my favorite record
s k I p s
over and over

hisses and pop!
the record player
repeats the same line

car radio oldies—
september rain
adds new rhythms

Susan Lucci’s monologue
iron marks
on your trousers

top quarter champion

top half champion

bottom quarter champion

leaking again
she tapes the crack
on grandma's kettle

another chip
found in grandma’s
century old tea set

coffee shop corner
my book
& I

rainy day
she thumbs through
the yellowed pages

top half champion

champion

bottom half champion

keeping record
of dinners past—
my apron

she can barely walk
but I don’t want another
puppy

for a moment
I’m Peter Pan:
broken arm

watching Peter Pan
the gruff cabbie
claps for Tinkerbell

top quarter champion

bottom half champion

bottom quarter champion

my keyboard
missing an
but sti using it

writing letters
with a typewriter—
no mistakes so far

stars go out
one by one
he still types

scratched gem
still
on her finger