The projects ghetto life, no one sees us in poverty we die. Depair who really cares? they always blame us for ending up here.   They judge how we live but they don’t know, food stamps, welfare that must be our life. I could wear…

Every time I am given the writing prompt to write about a place, I go to a singular time in my youth, to a river near my home where a huge willow grown into the riverbank had been cut down after a storm first broke…

There was still industry mixed into the suburbs. The organic genesis of the town in mid-century saw sandwich shops and school children pop up next to concrete manufacturers. I was a photographer in high school. At that time, most of the industries were in their…

it was a Midwestern lake circa 1983 we went for a day of fishing   I remember a photo I took of him in the water, only his smiling face with a cigarette.   I realize now I loved him what for? an ease, a…

It's been three decades since I was last there,up in your arms The world was kept awayI was safeLovedLovingEverything was new and brightIncluding me You picked up when I criedwhen I laughedwhen I needed you more than a dollYour heartbeat, against mineThe scent of Old…

Dear Red, We knew, perhaps before today, of the failure to disclose even under duress and we accepted that. We knew, perhaps before today, of enemies praised for power obtained through cruelty and we accepted that. We knew, perhaps before today of refusal to cooperate,…

My Mistress has many names given to her by all those that adore her My Mistress has many children of all shapes, sizes, and color She is a great teacher and lover to all Teaching us all how to sing, dance, cast, and cook She…

All that I know is this morning It has since come and is almost gone All I know is my past how I’m supposed to be this same certain thing How growing isn’t supposed to change your sweetness How life isn’t a medium of transformation…

I’ve buried a dozen emotions, for the twisted thing ego. I release them upon the women and children I invade, using the hours I spend tending broken souls. I too, was a child once. I’ve knitted a dozen newborn blankets, For my children who I’ll…

I wiggled impatiently as I drove my grandmother to my house, to her house. We were both in awe. It was on the market. This would be our chance to get it back after my mother lost it. My grandparents built that house, my grandmother…