rainy car ride
she points at the rainbow
in a distance

sunflowers
grapple my knees
where I intrude

a single blue flower
in a single vase
on a single table

birds resting on high wires
she calls me
to help

first summer dawn
she walks away
with a smile

one sock
stood up
by its perfect match

dirty napkin
I wipe hands clean
of you

shades of pink
flamingo, rouge, fuscia
pick one only . . .

sitting in a circle
the children
show off their baskets

dark place
how your fingers
felt on my neck

her long legs
wrapped around him
it's been too long

the sound of the shower
thinking of
you

footsteps before me
paving the way
through the snow

autumn wind
bring tall grasses to life
the sun's last cigarette

the soothing sound
of the rain
down, like a baby

the filthy child
just born . . . with
no bath quite yet.

dirty window
separating me
from the sun

refraining from coming
within arms reach
the high chair

wedding day church
stained glass window
broken

broken branches
the tall tree
falls apart

bunny ears
I can see
from far behind

stained glass window
transforming the light
a rainbow

rollercoaster hill
my fingers find yours
in the sky

bringing his girlfriend in
to meet the family
palms sweating

dreary day
drowning in my sorrows
driving to the dentist

early morning sun
peaking at me through
the rip in my tent

Christ looks down at me
bloodied, battered, defeated—
mixed feelings of regret

standing at the edge of the crack in the world
he starts to run and the jumps over
and falls in

coughing into his hand
blood
he wipes it on his pants

lying next to her
hands are latched
to our phones

porcelain dolls
underneath my bed
lying dead

a crow squawks
as he takes
his last breath

busy office day
trying to keep it together
in her cubicle

floating
watching my body
lay still and silent

spring shower
watering the grass
on the new grave

big black dog
attacks me
a wet slobbery tongue

Sunday without you
PBR is
flat

same hiding place
soul
mates

she brushes her hair
one last time
trying to be perfect

light saber
slaying the monsters
under my bed

looking at your picture
driving along the desert
I.E.D

just a year ago
he was playing catch
now he sits in his wheelchair

waking me in the night
cat scratch
on my toe

silent novel
the things people
don't say

upside-down cake
the center piece
of the kitchen floor

making cracks
in the clouds
tree branches

laughing silently
secretly in on
the joke

a bloody knife
rare steak demolished
time to do dishes

her smell
penetrates
my every thought

champagne and orange juice
I sink into my drink
as politics heat the room

racing after you
red turtle shell
Mario's photo finish

a breath mint
won't save
the date

three billboards
2 Miles to go
The Grand Finale

oh—
crap—
i'm in love

walking in the corn field
holding hands
with my world

waddling
to the table for leftovers
the dog pants

silence burning
over a roaring
fire.

news is out Bears trade
for OBJ
April Fools

spring cleaning
I watch
the snow fall

homework
next to my love
now on the floor

frail old woman
gently wraps a pink ribbon
around stems of liliacs

black heels and a smoke
red lip stick and sex appeal
she is dangerous

silence
all that is left
in the funeral home

he takes
his jokes with him
to the grave

wrestle with the girlfriend
she woke me to
a pillow in face

shit-stained mattress
rumbles
under the freeway

grief—
while folding soft shirts
it spins my stomach

waking from a dream
so vivid I could’ve sworn
you were here

she slithers around
and only asks for love
when shes hungry

small talk
over a pool table
trying to keep up

I watch intently
the couple gathering food
squirrels

tiny hazel eyes
darting towards
her brother’s Easter basket

joyful praises
sung by the choir
the empty cathedral

home for the first time
in forever
already assigned chores

following
the sweet smell
the corner bakery

my mind on her
her mind
circles Jupiter

the stillness of the air
as the snow falls
April . . . fools

Mom and Dad
forgetting
where they placed the last egg

she gazes at the couple
as they serve
each other ice cream

water droplets
drip drip dripping
from the dog's beard

all bundled up
to go outside
to search for eggs

cold room
rain drops rolling
down the window

bright summer dresses
accompanied by
dark, snowy skies

Rory Arnold (4)

unwrapping the foil
of my next victim
chocolate carcass

cheese fries
turning cold and soggy
in their paper box

dusk
cuddling
regrets

one down
11 to go
the hunt is on

the smell of rain
reminds me
I’m alive

unpacking her things
the beginning of
a fresh start

eraser marks
hiding what I wish
I had the courage to say

long days
turn to short
you step in the room

sun beating down
on my pale face
ahh, spring