three pies didn’t help

fifteen thousand down the drain

(cruel irony wins)

but it could be worse!

it could always be worse, right?

except when it can’t

fit for errand day

these beauties have held their bloom

to make our house home

childhood pizza

as giant as memories

olive mushroom joy

columbines in bloom

bringing back a taste of home

in time for summer

cream cheese lemon bliss

in bread brought from Libya

cultural delight

a middle school band

blooming peonies, bright clouds

and tree grown from seed:

maybe spring will bloom

a better future for us

than what winter left

was the drive worth it?

the money we didn’t have?

(paid to volunteer)

a mountain retreat

a flawless mirror of a lake

and a hundred girls

a view to climb to

only rocks, voices to hear

no tech for two days

every ordeal won

by perfect mornings of mist

we would lose at home

my man cutting mangoes

while vegan delights steam us

sexier than porn

girls find speaking skills

share their knowledge, ideas

and bring us on hikes

not small anymore

they’re becoming young women

too fast they’ll be gone

illegally parked

broken down expectations

and rained out traffic

what a weekend we started

all to pay to volunteer

at a Girl Scout camp

but look at that view

on the other side of rain

bidding us goodnight