without a guide
deeper into the woods
we traverse

you and I
under the makeshift umbrella
still soaked

roller skates
he travels backwards
on floating feet

an old hoodie
snuggles you
better.

oh to know every star
and constellation
on your face

time, my mind,
milk
out of everything

wearing my dress
i see her grow old
before my eyes

record player
we spin
together

ruffling the pages
that old book smell
sifts into the air

earbuds in
try not to make eye contact
or they'll ask what's wrong

two scars
one on her face
and one in her heart

a new pair of shoes
can’t run away
from my problems

Van Gogh’s sunflowers
all the yellow happiness,
you are mine.

empty garbage can:
you don’t have to say I love you
to say I love you

morning dew
says hello
through my socks

a palette of colors
I paint
black

evening rush
stars blink
I never noticed

sunshine bouncing
up and down
sandcastle

a set of stairs
I look up and wonder
if I can make it to the top

alone at the field
the circle of life
one ball

heavy packs
we carry more than we need
up the mountain

“am I depressed” test
still on my laptop screen
good morning

sunday morning
        rain drops
taking in love

where does
change start
the elevator breaks

door creaks slowly
who's there? no one?
. . . no one?

cramped gym
the wrinkled veteran
grunts over 25 lbs

sticky fingers
clutch the green apple
fruit flies

looking upwards
stars remind me of my size
I can breathe again

couples smiling
all around.
get out of my face

going over the top
I beg you
please make this stop

think think think think think
stop            breathe
we are okay

the whole world stops
when she calls
my name

a flower grows
in the sidewalk crack
symbolism

in your eyes
I see my
butterflies

always wondering
she loves me
                   not

an empty field
where the chalk
no longer exists

at the apple orchard
the receptionist refers to us
as a family

      he falls asleep
to the sounds
      of soft haiku

a show of hands
grasping
at straws

she hits the note
goosebumps
never lie

blood
a single drop
the floodgates open

after class
my best friend laughs
with another person

like a skipping stone
i am picked up, looked at
    and tossed    aside

a frequency
unknown
the earth hums

throat tightens
was it the sickness
or was it you?

down my chin
      blood dribbles
Tooth Fairy owes me five bucks

      palms open
i welcome the spark
i welcome the storm

the fetal position
she curls
in beautiful angles

my to-do list:
      • won’t fit
      • in 3 lines

campus walk
i stop.      to watch
the monarch float

we lay together
bare skin
not knowing what he thinks

he didn’t say hi.
maybe he didn’t see me
               maybe he did

remnants
of last night’s moon
morning coffee

mother’s voice
shelter
in the raging storm

she looks pretty
she looks sweet
do i?

long drive
headphones block out
the universe

envelope
too thin
to bring good news

discussing life and galaxies
we never looked into
each other’s eyes

sleepless night
the moon becomes
my confidant

running to class
my backpack weighs
more than me

an empty classroom
a gold star falls
but never lands

dinnertime
sometimes right on time
sometimes at midnight

their stories remain
in the oak rings
the whispers of mountains

a crown of flowers
hides a crown of thorns
the pain lasts

Saturday afternoon
with Netflix and friends
instead of homework

which will fall first?
the posters in the room
the books on my shelf

90 degrees
I long
for Christmastime

i hope you find me
in the rain
when she isn’t enough

one too many
                    I still see his face
    when I close my eyes

leaves in the wind
have I seen you
before?

key in the ignition
ready to start
my downward spiral again

pasta in the pot
the water vanishes
like memories

4 am
no light left on
the door, locked.

mirror messages
I leave you asleep
with love notes

people smile and clap
but why?
imposter syndrome

you didn't tell me
good luck before my game
I struck out

I kick rocks
down the side walk
lost memories

music box stopped singing
by her 10th birthday
it holds her prozac

two a.m.
roll off the couch
faded mascara

one more plank
one more minute
just one more

dragging feet
to school
amber alert

the biggest question
do I have time
for you

heat lightning
not the only thing
lighting up my night

so deep in conversation
we don't notice
the biker on our right

each box checked
I am free
uke and me

each day
each person
sewing machine

hold in the yawn
or they will stare
first-time yoga

my professor tells me
to take up more space in performance
but also, in life

a wilted rose
resting on grey granite
family I never knew

a mahogany acoustic
one by one
I pluck the strings

her hollow smile
haunts me
I did try

my alarm ends the nightmare
before another begins
calculus

the sink overflowing
with dishes,
bastards

wallet picture
we carry each other with
we carry each other

swing porch
you rock me when
my mom can’t

he feels like home
maybe that’s why
I’m not homesick