in mineral baths
i mock a tropical life
(yet i’m still so cold)
the snow drives us home
a lion-like March exit
to freeze my failure
nothing can replace
all the hours without them
now bathed with worse score
parenthood
Branching Out
Spanglish park play date
joy found amongst las ramas
friend language rooted
(questionable choice–
my student’s family, my girls–
here we cross borders)
No Matter How Hard
the teacher’s spring break:
finishing apathy’s work
with my daughters’ hands
Bipolar Weather
yesterday a run
in a cami under sun
today’s dawn… sun gone?
crazy cat attack
wishing winter would come back
two feet deep… too steep?
cookies baked, cake made
springtime sun pushes through shade
drive scraped clean… spring mean?
shifting weather here
spring teases, but winter’s near
snow spring… children sing.
The Gut Tells All
my colleague had
Teacher Tequila Tuesday.
i ran three miles, carpooled kids,
cooked vegan chili and cornbread,
gathered girls from play date,
showered, did our taxes,
spoke in Spanish por teléfono,
and never slurred a word.
he may be Mr. Popularity.
but i win this Tuesday.
Trapped
the parent’s dilemma:
restrict further to protect
or cause more sneaking?
Spring Blues
snow carries in spring
between white petals and flakes
baby blue returns
they’re slightly off tune
surrounded by perfection
like flowers blooming
not quite ready yet
for the season to push through
bursting in the sun
but they’re mine, all mine
smiles and chases and love
bursting through the blue
So Cold
those teary secrets
all teens keep under cover
bring moms the shivers
Bite Size
morning chore cheer-up:
all summer clothes on clearance,
kids ride penny horse
turtle view walk
(kids swim free in Denver’s dream)
then neighborhood grill
tinker toy swing joy
with a dose of dream house night:
Saturday served up
Spiraling into Control
after a draining day
with back talk on all fronts
i just want to laugh it up
at a simple game
between a spiral and a kitten
to spin my mood back
Step Write Up 