Adding Rings

the sun dipping low
highlights the trunks of tall trees
hinting at the need
for structure, consistency
continuous unfolding

Summer Rain

an abrupt downpour
sends freshness barreling in
the open front door

Tell Me You Love Me

"tell me you love me"
demands a man I don't love
I kiss him, say no

Road Trip

as you squeegee off the bugs
you can notice or ignore them

but they've still all died
on the windshield
while you counted the miles
and sang along to the radio

your very existence
relies upon taking in dead things
and shitting them out

but that only troubles you
for a moment

some of your loved ones are dead too
others live and you're killing the bugs
to go visit them

you drive away
burning another tank of dead dinosaurs
the dead bugs float in soapy water
you munch on dead blueberries
and live
for the time being

Expanding

her heart grows lanky
and sleeps in the car
blond-curled head lolling

her heart grows dexterous
and taps the screen of a cell phone
drawing flowers and butterflies

her heart falls asleep in her arms
less and less these days

her heart peels away from her
with a sticky tearing noise
and runs away, shouting "No!"

her heart, no longer her own
can't be clung to or bargained with
as it bounds through this world
expanding