i can’t win with her
(this pandemic doesn’t help)
so here we are. trapped.
parenthood
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
Just Three Words
Vamos a ganar
with this American map
he knows nothing of
every moment counts
and he has read my soul here
with these three small words
Cherish Them
these fleeting moments
shared with a stencil of love
between my daughters
Hallowed
working for love
(sometimes it doesn’t pay back)
but we always try
Teen Life
some glow before snow
our weekend wrapped in moments
without argument
Step Write Up 