three-girl agreement
rare these days–two schools straddled
ice skating it is
health
Trials
the runner in me
hides behind her little legs:
cross country trial
not far from losing
i jog along; encourage
(fathers nearby shout)
she finished the race
not the first, yet nearly last;
she finished the race!
breakfast victory
eyes bigger than small stomach
(won my first mom cheer)
her legs are my legs
because losers are winners–
sport trial: winning
Sunset Run
no sunset pictures
just sore legs from running fast
alongside my girl
never thought i’d see
any of mine take to sports
proud to trek along
Wash Perk
though i might dread this
still hot, legs sore, lack of sleep
the view is unmatched
Day Dealings
sunset on this day
can’t capture light nor finish
what the day has dealt
i’ll run till i die
or die trying to run free
from days that chase me
Love’s Labor Lost
beach day ends summer
(though it’s already over)
school can kick our ass
she’ll paddle toward sun
let weekend sparkles shine through–
make this week worth it
with our lives packed up
these small moments so matter
more than i can say
even with the rain
that raced us back to our car
we dried off. and won.
Smooth Migration
my thousandth visit
just as pretty as the first
brings peace to my stress
and seeing her run
beating her time on day two
goose wings to the sky
Day Seventeen, Road Trip 2015
met in a drugstore
seventy years of marriage
through three kids, three wars
still earth’s travelers
color-coded pins mark map
slept, lived, camped, drove, flew
she swims every day
he mows the yard and pulls weeds
they tease each other
best of all? they grin
take tragedy, joy in turns
till death do them part
(this is why i drive
take my kids along the road
live long by travel)
By Heart
a freshwater lake
found from memory; a hike
better baptism
childhood relived
through my daughters’ newfound strokes
saltlessly sweet taste
coves around corners
wind-whipped waves licking the shore
new memories made
Bike to Work Day
battle scars unwashed
floods, fallen trees, tornadoes
nothing but the bike
Step Write Up 