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…

Nowhere to stand In this wetland Its easier to climb than it is to walk Bridges from fallen trees Swatting at nettles and at the bees Maybe it was a yellow jacket Slashing through blackberry bramble Was only part of the slow ramble Rarely was…

My name is Vivian, I am 37 yrs old. I live in the state of Arizona. I hail from the Navajo tribe and look forward to this year’s challenge. This year I have requested the weekend off to be able to focus on the event…