alone
at peace
rushing water |
botanical garden
the fountain mist sprays
my face |
in
out
a calming breath |
counting to ten
I shut the world out
eight, nine . . . |
|
|
|
top
quarter champion |
|
TOP half Chamption
|
bottom
quarter champion
|
|
|
on an old stump
moist green moss
tickles my soft feet |
what is life?
I look down
at a furry caterpillar |
warm hazelnut coffee
we laugh
as rain drizzles |
sun sets on the horizon
silence emerges
and so do I |
|
TOP
half champion
|
|
CHAMPION
|
BOTTOM
half champion |
in the car
a quiet ride
midnight |
darkness
the dead silence
raises the corners of my lips |
mower roars
at last
quiet time |
going 70
music turned up
my meditation |
|
|
|
top
quarter champion |
|
BOTTOM
half champion |
bottom
quarter champion
|
|
|
swinging gently
on the wooden porch swing
end of a long day |
my stable hammock
gently rocks back and forth
ocean boat |
the overstuffed chair
in the library
knows me better than anyone |
chaotic day
I close my bedroom door
and breathe |
© 2017, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.
clock strikes 3
only four more
pages to go |
hours passed
same amount of homework
I started out with |
ticking clock
my wood pencil
strewn with bite marks |
keyboard comes to life
an essay due
at 3pm |
|
|
|
top
quarter champion |
|
TOP half Chamption
|
bottom
quarter champion
|
|
|
hitting the submit button
11:59pm
a sigh of relief |
audible yawn
he presses "SAVE"
at midnight |
bright afternoon sun
working on homework
sun sets |
moon starts to leave
I should be fast asleep—
homework |
|
TOP
half champion
|
|
CHAMPION
|
BOTTOM
half champion |
finally alone
focusing on homework
a familiar face approaches |
complex equation
reach for my calculator
dead battery |
sunday morning
comes and goes
I lay in bed |
missed alarm
woke up late
only one shoe |
|
|
|
top
quarter champion |
|
BOTTOM
half champion
|
bottom
quarter champion
|
|
|
watercolor in the sky
he grabs my hand
and pulls me close |
he buries his face in her neck
a deep breath in
never wanting to let go |
cobalt blue silk
she tightens the laces
on the corset |
a choir clothed
in purple robes
sunlight through stained glass |
© 2017, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.
we sit
around the messy table
family dinner over |
gathered around the table
my little sister's
turn |
restless night
I come downstairs
my father makes fried eggs |
father and son
go for a walk
purple sky |
|
|
|
top
quarter champion |
|
TOP half Chamption
|
bottom
quarter champion
|
|
|
long tennis match
I glance over
and see my dad's grin |
fell asleep
watching TV
my exhausted father |
standing in the kitchen
mother tries to explain
the divorce |
the three of them
hold hands
praying at the child's funeral |
|
TOP
half champion
|
|
CHAMPION
|
BOTTOM
half champion |
stolen shirts
bad music in her car
giggling with my sister |
friday night
mom and aunt yelling
Sweet Caroline |
cruising down an empty street
a rusty sign
reminds me of papa |
as we walk
I feel my brother's pain
funeral |
|
|
|
top
quarter champion |
|
BOTTOM
half champion
|
bottom
quarter champion
|
|
|
the packed car
is silent
sleeping children |
streetlight shining
in the night
taking out the trash |
the smell of
a five-star restaurant
Mom's homecooked meal |
rain patters
outside the creaky pub
steak and fries |
© 2017, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.