Hoopla

spun behind this hoop
 twisted in tape, lost chances
 you gave me away
 
 i long for the joy
 we once shared, our dreams the same
 now it’s give… and blame
 
 a hollow black pipe
 decorated with bright tape
 somehow brings smiles
 
 yet we live alone
 in the same house; too different
 to spin together
 
 

Exhaust(ed)

in city blooms, petals drop
falling to pavement to be smashed by tires
ground into the street our souls walk on
their soft, lilting perfume gnawed by exhaust

just like your lack of denial
as fragile as a flower in mid-spring
silence swallowed up by gray skies and wind
clear mountain view blocked; exhausted

no matter how many miles i walk
you’ll never quite capture the right moment
when they blossom fearlessly, ready to stay
exhausted only by blue skies and sun

Antidepressant

we all need a rest
 in a spring-sunny window
 to close out the day
 
 

Seasonal Affect Disorder

testing never ends
 we March April into May
 snow, sleet, hail… and hell
 
 
 

All I Can Muster

petals pushing through
 fighting winter with color
 for Testing Tuesday
 
 

Juxtaposed

though silent; sullen;
 in soft flakes we see ourselves–
 river-melted; lost
 
 return of seasons
 we sometimes wish had left us
 (fragile reminders)
 
 yet the buds survived,
 bringing petals of new hope
 that can’t be melted
 
 

Snow Plow

a white-knuckle drive
 brought my sister through the snow
 back to my heart’s home
 
 

The Splits

mental gymnastics:
 ten more minutes with kitty
 and soft pink sunrise?
 
 or rally for work
 with no soft fur or soft pink
 to stretch out my day?
 
 stretching’s a challenge
 when the world can be dark
 with soft beginnings
 

Petals and Flakes

according to spring,
 all blooms should be center stage,
 frosting our city
 
 but the forecast? snow.
 a different white, just as soft,
 but not so gentle
 
 shoulder seasons suck.
 i’ll wait for summer, sun-drenched,
 blooming from within
 
 

Parenthood Is…

a strip club of sorts
 sprawled across a tile floor
 waiting for a buck