dream school acceptance
in the midst of this nightmare
that’s 2020
what next, i wonder?
how will we survive all this
with all that we face?
the box comes early
before breath has settled us
into this next step
Senior Year Milestone One
growing up
Quaranturkey
work interrupted
my man carving the turkey
so my boy stepped in
my girls made the pies
and set the grateful table
(we made this loss work)
just the six of us
celebrating our health
in a health-hell year
Closed Eyes
lost in her paintings
i want them to see beauty
but they just won’t look
Quarantine Scenario #437
hidden behind mask
is my sixteen-year-old girl
(her pandemic grin)
i hope to win her
with walks, drives, conversations
just like the old days
Mom to Teen
i can’t win with her
(this pandemic doesn’t help)
so here we are. trapped.
A Gift from 2020
a personal gift
from her aunt, for Sweet Sixteen
ripped open, stolen
how dark can it get?
two Honduran hurricanes,
pandemic, no school?
and now birthday gifts
being stolen from our porch
while we sit like sheep?
Heartstrings
yes, he can smile
with a photographer’s touch
the magic comes out
Pink Limbs
sometimes the sunrise
is the best part of the day
(before darkness falls)
Opposing Views
lovely innocence
found in the curious eyes
of a young child
now masked by sorrow
even with her birthday gift
her eyes say it all
Sweet Sixteen in a Bittersweet Year
the day starts with tests
to secure her friends’ safety
in this COVID year
negative is good
whoever thought it’d be good
to be negative?
and so, she smiles
and we blow up the balloons
(losing one to wind)
and the four friends come
and she’s happy for just a day
of this lonely life
Step Write Up 