stomach full of food
relaxing on the sofa
grandpa half asleep

startling himself awake
from his snoring

Mason Bruce & Amanda Bivens

hop-hop
hoppy easter — hop hop
to the coffee pot

early church service
calls for extra espresso

Breana Bagley & Amanda Bivens

streaming
our favorite netflix show
alone

wishing you were here
with me now

Connor Mendenhall & Amanda Bivens

hop-hop
hoppy easter — hop hop
to the coffee pot

to the coffee pot
giving me additional life

Breana Bagley & Mason Bruce

family dinner
guilt trip . . .
because i am busy with school

will you be there?
or not at all

Amanda Bivens & Mason Bruce

the homeless man
watches the family 
shop for Easter

before he realizes
it is about the gift of life

Evan Chastain & Mason Bruce

shotgun start
everyone scatters
in search of the golden egg—

too bad
the dog finds it first . . .

Mason Bruce & Ariya Hawkins

feeling so full
I could burst
. . . but there's strawberry shortcake

it's about time
I unbuttoned these jeans

Amanda Bivens & Ariya Hawkins

one mile high
heart racing as you
jump from the plane

in search of the enemy;
paratrooper

Emily Reeves & Ariya Hawkins

new tattoo
grandma scolds me
little cousin’s smile

takes away
the pain

Julia Peterson & Benjamin Woodcock

shotgun start
everyone scatters
in search of the golden egg

falling to my knees
bitter memories

Mason Bruce & Benjamin Woodcock

throwing away—
a calender
full of old to-dos

only to pick up
the next

Whitley Sapp & Benjamin Woodcock

one mile high
heart racing as you
jump from the plane

bystanders look away
splat

Emily Reeves & Mikaela Vuglar

new tattoo
grandma scolds me
little cousins smile

as i flash
new ink

Julia Peterson & Mikaela Vuglar

new restaurant
she spills her secrets
on the dinner table

I begin to wonder
. . . where the body is

Grace Ruddell &  Mikaela Vuglar

cigarettes:
mom crying into
the telephone

as she hears
the news

Whitley Sapp & Connor Mendenhall

children laughing in the background
little white socks
folded on the floor

heaps of toys
also on the floor

Breana Bagley & Connor Mendenhall

chocolate bunny
hollow
like me

just more
sugar

Julia Peterson & Connor Mendenhall

shotgun start
everyone scatters
in search of the golden egg

pushing and shoving
screaming "I found it"

Mason Bruce & Daryann Birt

finally home
wet dog noses
pressed against my face

soon losing
interest in me

Grace Ruddell & Daryann Birt

pictures on the wall
remind me of
old friends

. . . our memories
a long time ago

Emily Reeves & Daryann Birt

hop hop
hoppy easter — hop hop
to the coffee pot

like humans
the bunny needs coffee too

Breana Bagley & Emily Reeves

blue balloon
begins to blend
with the ever-widening sky

until suddenly . . .
POP

Ariya Hawkins & Emily Reeves

midmorning opera
the birds perform
as I sip my coffee

the sun shines through
the opened windows

Ariya Hawkins & Emily Reeves

celebrating the holiday . . .
whiskey
keeps me company

family
forgets about me

Mikaela Vuglar & Evan Chastain

he runs his fingers
over his own hand,
love may come one day

she looks down
as she does the same

Ariya Hawkins & Evan Chastain

pictures on the wall
remind me of
old friends

that once were
friends

Emily Reeves & Evan Chastain

alarm clock
a woodpecker tap-tap-tap
just outside the window

I roll over regretting
3 am

Whitley Sapp & Julia Peterson

pictures on the wall
remind me of
old friends

I no longer
see them daily

Emily Reeves& Julia Peterson

stomach full of food
relaxing on the sofa
grandpa half asleep

grandma calls for
lamb cake from the fridge

Mason Bruce & Julia Peterson

downtown Sunday
a boy in a suit
runs in the rain

to the cemetery . . .
one last look

Grace Ruddell & Rene Sanchez

children laughing in the background
little white socks
folded on the floor

my heart warms
once again

Breana Bagley & Rene Sanchez

after she left
I now notice
the sound of a watch ticking

a gust of wind
blows my door open

Benjamin Woodcock & Whitley Sapp

nightly routine
not the same without you . .
my toothbrush

leans
in search of yours

Mikaela Vuglar & Whitley Sapp

cool breeze
through the open window
Thursday

is the
funeral

Daryann Birt & Whitley Sapp