tent without a fly
for another river day
flanked by swimming dogs


tent without a fly
for another river day
flanked by swimming dogs


along a river
this fairy tale ferry stop
has stood a beacon




in muddy waters
kids get to be kids all day
while mamas paddle


nature is our home
found in Kentucky fire
lit by desire



a creek paddle day
brings every boat together
for swimming and grins




if only these pics were perfect
as perfectly peaceful as they appear
and no one lost a phone (and all the love attached) to a lake
and no one said they hated each other
and no one lied to their mother
and no one cried.


but life isn’t this lake
this quiet Kentucky fishing lake that we ruined with six screaming kids and one barking dog
this peaceful lake for paddling or praying or both
this swimmable, all-ours, wake-free lake.

Life is this lake, isn’t it?
Perfect and not so perfect.

not what i dreamed of
for our family vacation;
pretty all the same


you wouldn’t believe
how fire Kentucky is
sunsets, family, all


this is our family
working through each glittered pic
and this quarantine


magic pupusas
like play dough for my nieces
home cooked by my son



side of garden leaves,
fresh cut perfect peonies,
beauty from our home

hiking out hurts us
(to face the world’s anger
instead of these trees)

from aspens to pines
peaks and creeks guide our soft steps
toward tranquility



exchanging language
a small step brought by small girls
(the journey begins)

never would he speak
now he speaks: “You’re next, Ruby”
quarantine blessing
