overnight

we dance
slow
to the rhythm
of our heartbeats

in a room
made of tapestries
softened by the
warmth of the wine
that quiets
the fear
of being close

soon our clothes
leave us
naked to each
other's whims

a shadow of paisley
flower on your cheek
tells me
it is morning

song and dance

i twirl in circles
to awaken the small girl
that giggles at bubbles -
and hops along
with all green frogs

and decorates
everything
with sparkles

she lives within me
and I play and smile
so that i too can be
three

and we have a dance
party
and a birthday
party

we have a song
and  a dance
for all of our
accomplishments

sky

i am awake

my breath
warms the cool
blustery air
around me
into a cotton fog

i inhale the life
that is the sky
and step with intention
upon the earth

the ground greets
my feet with its
soft, welcoming mat
of dirt
and daffodils

chirps are bright
above me
and remind me
that soon
i will step barefoot
in a sundress

and laugh

a walk in the sun

daybreak brings
bright sunshine
builds bridges
through trenches

and deep, dense mud

there's nothing
a new day can't fix

there's no chance
left untaken
for the brave
and the loved

travel forth -
forge friendships
walk lightly along
the path ahead

remember flowers
are at your sides
and the sun
has your back

there's nothing
a new day can't fix

street girl

tattered and topless
she stands upright and steady
while her grey eyes fall

nothing to hear, nothing here

a blank slate
fills the opened mind
wide and empty

a slow thought
is a caterpillar
that creeps from
one ear through
and out the other
a wormy cliche
or forgetfulness

it wiggles
and moves
and is gone
before its arrival

the great
epiphany
a bird without
a landing

Stanley James

he lies quiet
with quick and raspy breaths

the other son swiftly notices
a diminishing belly
and asks

Is that Stanley James?
He's not in your belly?
he's over there?

loud and surprised
he repeats his questions
turns from belly
to cradle, lost in wonder

as ami

his  mind
awakened, a new
reality fills his
brain

and mine

he lives here?
is that my brother?
he's part of our family?

Yes

in the cold

the damp stain
of cold, frigid breath
drained from
the partially living
beast
you know the one
with one fang
ready to claw deeply
into
your flesh
and tear away
the sweetest meat

no leftovers

nothing to hold onto

and the arctic
air shatters
its recipient

its vice
and whole purpose
to diminish
a life

a breath of stillness

the lowered shade
provides ephemeral relief
from daylight
and the reality
of the race
that runs alongside you

and you,
you stop
and you blink
and hide and sink
and the people
continue to run
and text and tweet
and think

your mind
is on the brink
you want to keep up
feel like less
when you stop

know
beauty rests
in that moment
when silence
and stillness both
overwhelm you
with belief
in the eternal connection
between man
and a single breath

my sons

not much time left
for time to pass
or night left
for time to sleep

I rest atop small
eggshells that crackle
each time I tip-toe,

I pray in silence
that I might lay my
head down
another minute

most of all, I pray
for my small children
to smile, living
in their world of joys

thank goodness
for little boys

just you

the limb's brush wisps by
on a strange, windy, day
it tears apart
and snaps your way

landing on your arm,
aloof and cool
she whisks it away,
she, the wise ghoul
that survived last year's
hour of the passing
of more time

more time apart
and now together
you and she
the devil, the ghoul
forget the season,
no need for time
or more

of anything