1

chocolate
with wine
and an overpriced
teddy bear
romantic consumerism

2

take my picture
develop me
in glossy black and white
I want to be more solid
than my shadow

3

I brought a flower home
to die
in the last chapter
of a book
we never finished

4

pointing out clouds
in the summer sky
train whistle in the distance
your hand in mine
as we lay ourselves to rest

5

watching wispy strands
of long blond hair
the name
you gave yourself
just perfect

6

one day
comes and goes
like your love
my heart
lets go

7

a scorecard
in her head
if only
I knew
the score

8

saccharine hearts
chalky and pink
I place one in your palm
saying BE MINE
        you don’t argue.

9

from afar
she watched me,
silently pining after my heart.
Like a mouse in a trap,
I was none the wiser.

10

fighting sleep
to savor
just one more moment
of us
tangled limb and limb

11

my name
sloppily adorns
the red envelope
hiding
a vague expression

12

someone compliments
my necklace
as I tell them about it
I freeze remembering
who gave it to me

13

i will survive this
as i always do
the MRI machine
closes over
me

14

The pink blossom tree
a favorite in childhood
chopped down yesterday.
Now where
will the fairies live?

15

not all men!
they cry,
as though a child once bitten
                wouldn’t be
                   twice shy

16

holding me
until dawn
one arm
over my chest
light as a feather

17

creating a world
at 6 years old
showing it to my mother
and smiling
as she critiques it

18

this life
will be beautiful;
i cut my tongue
on the envelope
gum seal

19

deep tissue massage
our necks strain
from looking down
      those people
      we used to know

20

my shoe loose
walking home from the bar
arm around your shoulder
I’m lovesick
on the sidewalk

21

the bright neon
and vulgar conversation
dulling the mind
nevertheless . . .
isolation skulks

22

if god was
a teenage girl
she would have
hated herself
too

23

leave the house
one final time
suitcase full of
corduroy and candle wax
all the things I love

24

crashing into a cabinet
with no restraint
tears well
as I look up at my brother
what a good memory

25

collecting shells
in shallow water
this one
already chosen
by a hermit crab

26

counting the bruises,
I regret letting in
your carnivorous heart.
      it tears into me,
             hungry for love.

27

on my lips
the pulsing sore
at my words
anxious fingers
pull