a state park lunch stop
(sad Superior goodbye)
brings mosquito hell
trips beget errands
in search of camping comfort
in this humid state
car
Road Trip 2019: Day Six, Gitchi Gami
you haven’t ridden
over the Rockies; not yet.
Superior wins.
with a pup and girls
(unread itinerary)
we biked thirty clicks
Minnesota wins
for elevation record
on these little legs
and to end it all:
waterfall, campfire, cheese.
who would ask for s’more?
Road Trip 2019: Minnesota, Day Five
driving through trees, lakes
we leave Dakota behind
for the greatest lake
Road Trip 2019: North Dakota, Day Four
a frontier village
with world-record bison
thank you, Dakota
a cider dog fest
on a random Fargo night?
(mead is delicious)
the northern midwest
is a reality show
of kindness at play
Road Trip 2019: North Dakota
i never listen
when someone says it’s boring
i always find fun
North Dakota wins
kindness, camping, paddling
and late-night sunsets
Earth lodge history
and indigenous genius
round out this cycle
with Art Deco touch
to capitalize the north
and give us this view
all in a day’s work:
this “boring” state makes dreams bright
campfires and all
Road Trip 2019: Dakotas, Day Two
from flat Dakota
emerges a river trail
hard on legs and kids
but water wins views
however it meanders
giving life to all
Broken Blossoms
life lived in moments
from crises to remedies
(one day’s event course)
broken cars and drains
cannot break twenty-one years
of kept promises
so let’s build fires
to burn the losses of life
and collars of hope
because even pup
knows how to tolerate pain
as peonies pop
Pre-de-Bugging
our netted hammock:
plan for mosquito summer
in Minnesota
Catch Me a Breeze
a sunny Sunday
is made for panting puppies
searching for blue skies
My Chauffeur
a milestone reached
after sixteen years a mom
she earns her license
Step Write Up 