before boarding
my shirt buttons beep
strip search

Katie Steimann (3)

cutting the mist
the black blur
of the plane's propeller

Katie Steimann (3)

red-haired pre-teen
calls the flight attendant
one too many times

Katie Steimann

in the darkness
the cities lit up
to the horizon

Katie Steimann (3)

plane safety speech
only the flight attendant
interested

copying her recipes
in the kitchen . . .
mother cries

Joanne Weise (5)

final keystrokes
of the final paper
. . . finally!

Joanne Weise (6)

sultry eyes
staring into mine
winking at the mirror

kitchen-wandering
for a late-night snack . . .
screw the diet

Joanne Weise (6)

the day after Thanksgiving
waking up to
snow

realizing we need them
we retrieve the neck and giblets
from the trash

Katie Steimann (2)

Thanksgiving
with Dad and his girlfriend
turkey and egg rolls

Regan Bledsaw (6)

driving through the hills
on a sunny Texas day
Car Sick!

laughing at a joke
funny to those
who speak Vietnamese!

the plane takes off
your hand turns white
from my grip

Regan Bledsaw (4)

so excited to see you
when I call
you cancel our plans

Katie Steimann (4)

flying over St. Louis
blurred red and white
rush hour traffic crawls

she listens to his breathing
a flash of lighting
his mouth is open

stepping out
of the shower
a new woman

Abby Kavanaugh (4)

putting on her scarf
and a rainbow smile
she faces the day

their son
home from the war
folded flag

Rick Bearce (6)

time out
popping his shoulder
back into the socket

Rick Bearce (5)

scent of pine
throughout the house—
hanging the first ornament

Rick Bearce (4)

chill night
they cuddle together
while I shiver

Nichole Johnson (6)

my eyes water
words blur
on the page

Nichole Johnson (2)

the light filters
through the dust motes
onto his photo

too much tequila--
we forgot
we broke up

Jenn Van Natta (8)

new tattoo--
your heart
now on the outside

Jenn Van Natta (3)

after Thanksgiving
no leftover turkey
thanks to the dog

Jenn Van Natta (2)

in the rain
fingers going numb
to feed my addiction

Jenn Van Natta (5)

swirling wind storm
listening
my stomach gurgles

Emily Evans

his 23rd birthday
blowing out the candles
with one breath

first snow
going to bed
with cold feet

sleeping in
i miss my flight—
we laugh and kiss

November cold
cigarette smoke and my breath
one

thanksgiving day
we knead bread—
i watch his hands

Emily Evans (4)

cleaning thanksgiving dishes
no one had noticed
the climbing full moon

Emily Evans (2)

thanksgiving dinner:
i move my plate
to the kid's table

Emily Evans (6)

finally, a wine glass
i fill it up—
sparkling apple cider

Emily Evans (3)