Paint By Heart

only my youngest 
would agree to overalls 
shared with her Mama

our shared high school life
is about to come to terms
with empty nest blues

Emptying Nest

the cat is so cute
stretching herself on futon
in new spare bedroom

tries to fill heartache 
for our four-bedroom dream house
emptying our nest

this Funchal art walk
makes me miss my young artists 
at home without us

yet we must adjust
with the empty nest so close
i can feel its grip

this trip is a test
to see what “just us” feels like—
we’re on sold ground

he finally sees
his HMS Victory
in her dry dock bed

how victorious 
twenty-five years we’ve waited
to take this long trip

always toting kids
or visiting our family
never alone time

the fish and chips speak 
whispers of a turquoise sea
beckoning us: more

graduation tree
she chose Granny Smith Apple
sweet, sour, pie-love

Monument Valley:
the perfect sunrise rest stop
to light our faces

snow at Grand Canyon:
surprise bucket list side trip
to catch her snowfall

all three together:
it feels like a bucket list
to let them g(r)o(w)