I’m waiting to be born squatting on the Welcome Mat of the world i mimic my bullfrog totem animal and croak and burp and fart but no attempt can match his Majesty my bullfrog jumps on my head and creates a halo of mud and…

Of life’s issues and questions too deep of things too clear to see of things which aren’t what they seem and miles to go before I sleep Of all things my eyes have seen of lions that roar and gazelles that leap of posers too…

We never talk about where we go when we sleep until we have been awake long enough to kiss good morning and you wonder, but never ask why I break away first.

walking along the river fall sky heavy heaving clouds gray cast winter still months away ochre orange yellow red leaves flutter fall around me I quicken my step rustling through fallen piles circling in wind eddies I imagine being home warm tea nestled in my…

He was The eldest son He was my big brother He wasn’t always nice to me But I called him Bubba He tried to be Folksy He read Everything From the time he was three (Today he’d be seventy-three) He read for hours on end…

Long is the road to paradise Climbing higher than my mother, And her mother before her, So that she may grasp clouds in her little hands My hands have blistered Growing tired of carrying these curses But these burdens are not for her to shoulder…

Light of Recognition   “Tell me more,” She said with a smile. I watched my mother’s eyes alight with recognition. Today was a good day.   ****A shadorma is a six line poem with a syllable count of 3/5/3/3/7/5.****

The crooks and curves of Chicago concrete streets are set deep deep deep BAH BAH BAH We rise and lay flattened prostrate whenever the pistol rooster speaks Singing confirmation Whooah Whooah Whooah Sirens scream closely behind the scene With no mountain-top dreams or affirmation WE…

The moment when you’re able to breathe freely no longer having to grit and grind your teeth the tension so thick a knife can’t cut through it. those days are behind me. now I can just breathe.

i tug at mama’s sleeve she’s stopped walking and is staring at the hotel entrance i feel her body go stiff there’s a couple framed in the doorway of the hotel doing a couple thing and mama can’t stop looking mama, what’s wrong she doesn’t…