ravaged closet
half the hangers
              . . . empty

single penny
down the wishing well
. . . no clink

fireworks...
then
car alarms

laundry room
the dryers spin
as I turn the page

only one home
drawn in by the power
of computer solitaire

noise of the city
in the distance
I see a shooting star

paper, books, pencils
finals in one week
only me—studying

empty parking lot
just me
and the blowing leaves

crisp fall air
blows across leaves
only I notice

along the picnic bench
  p
  e
    r
     f
       e
         c
         t
        l
      y
  o
  r
    d
      e
        r
          e
            d
            a
           n
         t
        s

back stage
excited whispers
empty auditorium…

checking the window,
2 hours late
still no headlights

bird watching
from above
not one chirp

Oregon superhighway
miles and miles of
tree stumps

vomiting crazy child!
mom at the bar
screaming for silence

strawberry cake
i can taste
the missing eggs

midnight walgreens
the overhead lights
are deafening

all saint's day
the leaves applaud
their own deaths

first one in the louvre
mona lisa smiles
at my tweed jacket

the desk next to mine
she's sick . . .
. . . again

working out
with my MP3
no battery life

her best friend
always on time
. . . the driveway is empty

the bright lights
wrapped around the tree
no Christmas cheer

opening the shower curtain
Grandma!
and Grandpa!

petals
like paper
dried rose bloom

fishing trip
father and daughter agree
only on silence

gym class
leading the pack
a mile ahead

in bed at night
i fart
so loud

bridge in the mist
the next step
unseen

only me and
the black piano
—sweet music

outside
by the lake
my reflection is so clear

the streaming tears
down the young girl's face
no emotion

old trailer
under the rotted floorboards
dead animal smell

crows feet--
the age
of your eyes

research piled high
only hours left . . .
flag football

my hand on her shoulder—
steady steps forward:
blindfolded

downcast eyes
past mistakes
relived