red white and blue
oos and aahs
strawberries

family tent
stories shared
under a star filled night

higher…
he dreams of
flying over the swing

red baseball cap
covers her eyes
blowing bubbles as big as her face

ticklish—
in his sleep
she clips his toenails

morning light –
I breathe in
the first day of school

family tea
talk of past and future
moon lit patio

the flowers
brighten my mom’s eyes
and her day

sit in
on this conversation
two feet on the ground

blood rushing to the face
while hanging upside down
kids giggle

mother may I
red light, green light
‘til street lights come on

studying for history
a girl upside down
in an oversized chair

family vacation—
perfect time to mention
divorce

buzzing
boys screaming
championship game

thump…thump…
we pass the ball
back and forth

first cry
red face
newborn in arms

customer control—
flick him on the nose
like a bad dog

first snow
brand new sled
tree!

7:55 woke up late
no time to shower
bus arrives at 8

hands brush
on the school bus—
cootie epidemic

hollyhocks
from Grandma’s garden
a bridal party

close your eyes
gliding fast downhill
tree!

fresh snow
drunken heels
don’t bring me down with you

cry of fear
sirens call
where is my house

in the cabin loft
sharing late-night secrets
shhh. . .

toys strewn across the room
in her lips,
the bent cigarette

summer's day
bomb pop man song
too late
gone!

worn, old, and torn . . .
never left my side
the childhood toy.

your sarcastic comments
I look into the mirror
and continue to apply eyeliner

the house backyard
I look into the sky
my kingdom

everyone together
for Christmas at our aunt’s
stair sledding

tiny tomboy
with a knotted ponytail
dirt smudges on her face

a summer evening
lightening bug
glitters on my finger

an afternoon tea
three teddy bears,
a doll and me

all these weird feelings
juvenile hormones
I think she likes me

yellow flowery dress
are you pregnant?
no, i’m just fat

stolen glance
his knowing smile
from across the room

a moonlit path
guides a couple
on a lakeside tour

no, mom . . .
I don’t want to meet
your new boyfriend

Sunday dinner
paper plates piled high
our gourmet meal

Sound of Mother's voice . . .
         Once upon a time
Lights out!

blender’s on
15 different vegetables diced
grandma’s up

death separates
all of us
why are we whispering?

harvest
of golden grain
we wait for Dad

tears fall
a daughter returns home
while her father drives away

my heels on brick
laughing together
our own rhythm

heat of summer
small feet on the trampoline
crack the egg

gentle grass
playing airplane
in the back yard

don’t talk
just
hold me

swimming in peaceful waters
we almost drowned
let's move on

a bent cigarette
hangs from her lips
a mother of four at the table

the snowman displays
his silk hat proudly…
cocky bastard

snow shoes
standing high on top
my feet don’t sink

hands so cold they burn
can't stop
snowman must be finished

snowday
Frosty in the front yard
crooked smile

the first downfall
of the season
snow cones

knee-deep
I blink
my frosty lashes

i knew it was coming
i tried
to remain naïve

naughty word
mom
fights her laughter

inside
I write sentences
Classmates recess

reading
by the nightlight
the end

in a grid of numbers
his mind
is lost

leaky tent
on rocks and sticks
sleeping like a baby

heads planted in snow
numb faces
            brotherhood

locked in our rooms
bustling about downstairs
Christmas morning

tiny fist
clenching wilted presents
no greater gift

flakes rolled into a ball
scrapes my tongue
my flavorless popsicle

the ultimate taboo—
tasting
yellow snow

combat the emotion
the pain of
a tattoo machine

purple umbrella
untouched puddle
she dances in the rain

kids running
all over the playground
cooties

lemonade
cool sweet smelling breeze
from the open window

first home
a distant memory
lost favorite bike

hair twisting up and around
I close my eyes
and smell the fresh breeze

frilly socks
big bows
rollers in her hair

floppy ears and wiggly tail
I tell you everything
my best friend

watching intently
the heroes
in a half-shell

cresent moon
star filled night
eating desserts

she packs the snow
lets out a warning cry...
snow slides down my cheek

snowball fight
tucked behind her back,
the first hit

a teacher's preying eyes
we speak
in sign language

scared
he runs beside me
as I learn to ride

fresh from a bath
my bare bottom
bangs on piano keys

in the park
sunlight beginning to dim
pedal faster

mom’s make-up
high heels dragging
our dusty dresses

there once was a time
when being awake by dawn
was not a challenge

sleepily sprawled on the couch
watching cartoons
all is forgiven

leaves fall
down around her
he closes the front door

nicks and scrapes
as we climb the tree
champions

the day after Christmas
counting the days
until my birthday

reflective pond
watching heat lightning
as the storm moves

old friends
gone seperate ways
will return again

swinging with the
wind against my face
flying

a delight for all—
except the girl
who sits in a corner

a nightmare
and the pitter patter of tiny feet …
a new person in the bed

out the window
the glittering valley lake
loneliness

bundled up for snow angels
20 minutes later
it’s back inside

reaching for lilacs
in a paper cup
for you mom

markings
on the wall…
waist high