Haiquilt

syllables can’t sew
or piece together quilt art
but her grandma can
haikus can’t capture
the hours of work, the cloth
from her grandma’s trunk
yes. a thousand words.
a thousand hours of love
for her granddaughter

My Middle

so perfectly dark
hidden behind black masks
and secret smiles

Diamond in the Rough

my par for the course
after a week filled with loss
(my man found the gem)

Toll Statement

**FINAL NOTICE**

Statement ID: 646 days.

License: Pending government approval.

Previous Charges: Empathy. Generosity. Kindness.

New Charges: Betrayal. Ignorance. Deception.

Amount Due: Loyalty. Awareness. Truth.

Due Date: 35 days ago.

**We recommend you send your payment 646 days in advance to allow for forgiveness time.**

DO NOT SEND LIES.

Hop On

a Denver date day
trains, bikes, breweries, face masks
how i love this one

Grin and Bear It

Toy Story 3. Now.
i could carry the bag out
and cry all morning
a toy, a trigger?
my girl is off to college.
(this is no cartoon).
and so he will stay.
though i know she will leave me.
each grinning their truth.

Bull-Hearted

like this worn-out dog
i have nearly given up…
yet, i’m a Taurus.
and so i garden
though it, too, is a failure
stolen by flowers
this year’s loss, in pics:
weeds and grass and tearing out
for one little heart

Sunflower Anniversary

twenty-three years back
i married this blue-eyed boy
who brings me my sun

Road Trip 2021, Day Twenty-two (The Final Day)

before the long drive,
enjoy the perfect park. shop.
soak up cousin time.
eat your sister’s meal
till the next time you see her.
too long (just too long).
your daughters will drive.
together, we can make it.
we will rule the night.
it’s all we can rule
with the oldest off to school
we can rule the night.

Road Trip 2021, Day Eighteen (Memory Lane)

my grandparents’ store
in this perfect little town
where they’ll always rest
Uncle Tim’s hard work
built for them from the ground up
(now he’s retired)
the pond where we swam 
and where i brought my toddler
now off to college
how harsh time can be
taking everything away
yet giving us life