1

my cautious fingers
tangle in her hair
sleep comes

2

exhaling cigarette breath
she finally allows her heart
to catch up

3

my tribe
beaming as we dance
under a full moon

4

my mother creeps in
under the soft flannel covers
and I am six again

5

in your living room
splitting a cigarette
we talk about what’s next

6

sundress slipped
over bony shoulders—
spring light through blinds

7

the chilled breeze
realizing shorts
weren’t the move

8

a six paneled window—
each with their own
perspective

9

childhood dresser
old paint dried
in my junk drawer

10

a rose garden
speaking with
sharp points

11

laughter in the attic
2 months left
I’ll miss you

12

making her debut
I cheer
sitting center

13

connection, understanding
this magical bond
between us and the sky

14

collodion clouds
crowding us
i know you’re tired

15

green grass
Easter in earnest
her best black clothes

16

twinkling galaxies
morse code
what are they saying?

17

the emotionality of
being a woman in contrast
his fears

18

the singularity of saying yes
when there are more nos than
affirmations

19

winter morning trail ride
without a saddle
sharing warmth

20

stacks of hot newspapers
wash away my 
ink stain fingerprints

21

Bud Light bottle cap
    wedged in the gearshift 
Can I help you clean up?

22

grandfather clock 
counts to twelve
dishes in soapy water

23

XL overnight pads
trying to avoid eye contact
the male cashier

24

spring fresh field
dew covered grass
hooves race through the mud

25

pounding feet
we run
from the ghost

26

lukewarm air
tree buds appear
hello again mosquito

27

the church bells ring,
the crocus spring fourth,
glorious time of rebirth

28

sandy beaches, party week
instead . . .
working and finally, sleeping in

29

garage sale
childhood memories
for sale

30

scrapbook
too many
empty pages

31

the end of the year
quickly racing
through tough quicksand

32

April and October
her favorite time
beginnings and ends

33

charm bracelets
a new charm from
every place she visits

34

funky shoes
funky glasses
she doesn’t like being predictable

35

focusing in on
one spec
brain scanning everything

36

sitting and reflecting
resting on my Squishmmallows
a daydream of happiness

37

two sides
one coin
I look in the middle

38

creating footprints
I won’t be able
to follow

39

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

40

lazy Sunday
why can’t i spend
every day like this?

41

cold room
his body
my blanket

42

exact conversations
repeat . . .

exact conversations

43

stasera
la luna brilla
per entrambi

this evening
the moon shines
for us both

44

sotto il motto
stasera perdo
il mio tesoruccio

under the motto
I lose tonight
my little darling

45

ora di andare
      . . .
             sono ancora qui

time to go
      . . .
            I'm still here

46

pictures with my friend
a ghost
caught in the frame

47

pulling out the stinger
underneath the hive
time for a run

48

spring rain
the chorus of frogs
echo across the pond 

49

a prayer
an answer
the ice cream truck

50

I THOUGHT
EVERY DAD WROTE
IN CAPITAL LETTERS

51

        tree top silhouettes
curtain                          opens
            crimson moon

52

i hope my shoes
         don't fill with sn-
damn.

53

dreading the moment
the dial moves
straight to E

54

making friends
who only know
me without you

55

eyes open wide
i do believe . . .
Santa came to town

56

your hair 
tumbling
     from 
   my 
sheets

57

deafening avoidance
her heart was not made
to be quiet

58

I’m sure
you don’t know
this is my spot

59

the fairytale
remains deceitful
as do i

60

she fakes a smile
save me
from my own independence

61

fucked
front bumper
that’s her

62

giggling on the couch over
empty pizza boxes
happiest day of my life

63

candles in the dark
she leans closer to see
the faces in the photo

64

salt-water sticky
trying to shake off sand
in the parking lot

65

our initials
carved
by some other couple

66

smooth stones 
slick
with time

67

high school lunch table, brown paper bag
never too old for mom's
handwritten notes

68

strange noise from upstairs
I mute the TV
and wait for another

69

birthday queen sash
finally . . .
no more fake ID

70

the girl I become
behind the bar
accustomed to chaos

71

blue Sunday afternoon
we talk about
the past

72

shaky cigarette breath
on the highway
ashes out the window

73

clinking quarters
I dig through cup holders
searching for change

74

my wings
don’t spread like they used to
but I want to fly with you

75

the jungle
cutting through
to the heart

76

early morning
earlier morning
even earlier morning

77

roof right over our heads
the stars and all
the rest

78

mushroom hunter's mantra
leaves of three
let them be

79

floating
but tied down by life
lily pads

80

     paint brushes
   in orange water
a blue brushstroke

81

county fair
fending off
drunk rodeo-goers

82

cross-legged in the living room
Elliott Smith 
on your acoustic guitar  

83

warm shower steam
fills the room
they could stay here forever

84

fire
in her eyes
all the things she wished to say

85

empty bookcase . . .
only one book
with wrinkled pages

86

watching out the window
bright red fox
burying its head in the snow

87

wishing for once
i don't have to
road trip alone

88

i looked
good
before i thought about it

89

p
     e
        e
on the seat

90

“We are so proud of you!”
      little do they know
      I can barely get out of bed

91

windows down
hands waving
i really need to fix this turn signal.

92

blurry air
i can’t hear
through the heat

93

folded prom photo
. . . dried flowers
where are you now?