with two days left here
i was hoping to share this
forest walk; paddle
my trip isn’t hers
(i’m trying to make it mine)
the one sunny day
she briefly emerged
to shop and model by bay
at least i have that
Seward loves murals
though they’re few and far apart
capturing life here
a redemptive hike
tolerably steep, pretty
to a glacier’s start
disappearing ice
is one reason for this trip
cold is beautiful
snowfields beat out scree
a challenge i can live with
and get to slide down
i’m hours faster
than the warning on their map
hiking solo wins!
marmot friends tease me
better than seeing a bear
top of world views
paddle-boarding salt
first time the three of us
(includes SUP)
shopping in the sun
on this quirky “spit” boardwalk
summer in Homer
time is running out
before i am alone here
soaking up smiles
ten thousand stone steps
slippery at dawn, at noon
as mist never stops
ten thousand reasons
to be afraid of this hike,
yet we keep trekking
ten thousand peak views
all in different shades of light
just like our marriage
ten thousand questions
when we married at twenty
look how far we’ve come
ten gallons of paint
in two shades of first-place blue
nine sets of hands working
on their shared day off
eight sets of curtains
washed and re-hung
seven stairs on each level
to paint between the cracks
six day deadline to
start a vacation, a new life
five day miracles happen
with many hands making light work
four levels to scrub grime
from walls, baseboards, and floors
three gallons of cleaner
to rub our hands raw
two levels of pet-pee-stained carpet
replaced at an affordable rate
one hell of a victory
for the life we work so hard to achieve
with a perfect score
my youngest surprises me
(she’s ready to drive)
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.
from prom to vaccine
in a short eight-hour night
(let science save us)
Step Write Up 