our black cat smiles
for her Halloween spirit
to seep through the leaves
A Turn of Luck
pets
We’re All Ears
so like her black cat
always calling for her needs
hoping we’ll listen
Postage Paid
i want the cute cat
and not the cracked-up pavement
through the broken woods
Teacher Tired
broken copier,
mushroom chicharrón tacos,
and this sad puppy
it's only Wednesday
of my first week back at school
and exhaustion wins
Bull-Hearted
like this worn-out dog
i have nearly given up…
yet, i’m a Taurus.
and so i garden
though it, too, is a failure
stolen by flowers
this year’s loss, in pics:
weeds and grass and tearing out
for one little heart
Road Trip 2021, Day Twenty-two (The Final Day)
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.
Road Trip 2021, Day Twenty-One (Water)
cycling through hills
of perfectly green horse farms
before paddling
bucket lists are short
but should include Kentucky
for its soft beauty
Road Trip 2021, Day Nine (Waterfalls)
you can’t understand
the traffic-less upstate life
till you’re on the road
the road with vineyards
and wineries everywhere
the empty lake roads
you can’t understand
waterfalls till you’ve seen these
cutting out gorges
if you knew, you’d know
just how perfect this place is
(it’s carved in sandstone)
but you’re not here, right?
so let me spill this clear view:
it’s a waterfall
it’s a waterfall
that feeds this glacial magic
(also named heaven)
Road Trip 2021, Day Eight (A New Paddle)
carrying kayaks
down for a pup-and-paddle
oh the lake, the lake
Road Trip 2021, Day Seven (Pontoon Life)
a day on the lake
clear, glistening perfection
formed by hills, glaciers
with a loving pup
and our nearly-grown daughters
the day is a gift
