the flower
you gave me
            wilted

silhouetted trees
haunting the night
the lone owl
                        gliding

whistle of the kettle
crackle of the fire
snow falls silently

silver river,
cupped in my mother’s hand
I grieve in silence

sweet apple blossoms
drifting, down,
waits for stillness

Snow is falling
faster
the mountain beckons

his hand
slowly reveals
the fourth ace

crumpled sheets
breeze across bare skin
the perfect day

peaceful tea garden
two children
laughing

peaceful tea garden
swatting
mosquitoes

peaceful tea garden
releasing
two sneezes

dust settling
an elbow scratched and bruised
his first home run

at a party
“. . . don’t you have a girlfriend?”
he ran to the toilet

bleaching, gritty sun—
aching arms
driving the ball through the 10th inning

breezy-bright morning
and happy-scared tears—
luggage piled on the sidewalk as she waves goodbye

losing weight
now your belly isn’t
soft anymore