1

chalk-stained fingers
grip the last stick of yellow
storm clouds gather

2

my old ball glove
still on the hook
summer dust

3

late night rain
I leave the window cracked
just to hear it

4

porch swing creaks
the cat watching
nothing at all

5

cold hands, tight laces
we dogpile on muddy grass
my cleats still kicking

6

block letters fade
but in my mind I still
rule the sidewalk

7

crickets chirp 
soothing me back to sleep 
as dawn approaches 

8

roller coaster
cousins laughing stopped
at the top

9

red and white
little elf
new spot each day

10

back of the line
waiting to go inside
no one talks

11

screaming above 
a cup is set softly into 
the dishwasher

12

wind whipped hair 
this feeling 
in my soul

13

lunchboxes open
laughter fills
the cafeteria

14

velvet flowers
muddy hands
dig into the earth

15

movie night
rock paper scissors
I always lose

16

to the shooting star
granter of wishes
stop ignoring me please

17

bouncing ball in play,
echoes of cheers
fill the night

18

a dust settles
but I can’t see
to run at all shoot

19

pencils sharpened
backpack filled
stepping on the bus stairs

20

girls in short denim 
cowboy boots
festival season

21

oval track
running circles 
that go nowhere

22

constellations . . .
grandma watches me
from above

23

my mind spins 
in endless loops 
Indy 500 

24

snow falling
exhaust pipe fumes 
warm in the car

25

new classes, same old me
but i sit up straighter now
thinking of the end.

26

icicle sword
my brother knights me
before it snaps

27

red wool mitten
half-sunk in the schoolyard snow
no turning back

28

after the fight
the quiet hum
of the fridge

29

I hear mama’s voice,
soft songs in Kinyarwanda
even in my dreams

30

wind taps on the glass,
Rwanda’s warmth in my chest
Illinois sleeps cold

31

drilling a hole
into sparling frozen water
where's the fish?

32

more weight
upon bare hangers
new shoes coming soon

33

fast food parking lot
the dog in the window
knows what’s up

34

a yellow jacket
warm and bright
her light within alive

35

under the big lights
piercing shriek of a whistle
final seconds gone

36

pink conch
for a listening ear
the shore says farewell

37

carrot for a nose
upright in the ground
can’t stay long

38

refrigerator hums
many choices
what to eat . . .

39

weight scale rattles
anxiously waiting
a slow heart beat

40

long streets
endless powerlines
the roads speak

41

grandma's house
together
game on the table

42

bundled up
under the giant snowflakes
a snow day!

43

an empty kennel 
paws no longer grace 
the floor

44

anxiety stepping up
only to look down . . .
same numbers as the day before

45

vibrant broad symbol
seeing something no one else could
a bright future

46

warm hot chocolate
from my head
down to my toes

47

kickoff at noon sharp
hoodies, burgers, cold breath
the crowd roars

48

cool air through the pines
smells like smoke and damp moss
a branch snaps somewhere

49

rock skips 
across the lake 
I keep pushing forward 

50

blowing bubbles
the warmth of the sun
on her face

51

beach vacation
the streets are empty
as lockdown begins

52

the harsh breeze
sky painted white
hoping for sun

53

chicken 
with its head chopped off 
my mind wanders

54

swing set moves
with the wind
a little girl sits

55

morning fog
the empty swing
creaks in the breeze

56

pigtails swing
her black lab follows
through tall grass

57

dark and cold 
not in my home
seconds of cider for everyone

58

snake coiled up
in a blooming flowerbed
a little girl pets him

59

smell of snow
sipping hot chocolate
with the Gilmore girls

60

winter dusk
the last porch light
flickers out

61

late autumn
the weight of my coat
on an empty chair

62

warm cafe
coffee cup stained
with lipstick

63

we dreamed in the dark
now your voice is on the mic
look at you, cousin