It all comes down to milk and sugar–
everything I want to say to you
someone has already said better.
Still–
gelato
in Rome
on a waffle cone.
To walk
under lights
between motorcycles
with you–
(originally published in Dreich Magazine, Summer 2021)
Following a trip to Vegas
in August heat, my skin itched
for good. I ended us. No,
you said. We were a done deal.
You would not leave.
We drank juice and vodka
to forget we had ever
talked about forever.
We rode a Lyft to BW3
at 2 P.M. on a Thursday
because a cheap happy hour
is a kind of grim reminder.
We ordered boneless wings at the bar.
The bartender told us ignition is cheap.
Beer stripped us to tender meat
and there was no more steam.
You stepped into the breeze
when you went outside to smoke.
We locked ourselves out–
the clouds produced rain, not keys.
(originally published in Hedge Apple, Spring 2019)
over dark beds of leaves
twigs and string I was full
of hope and hoping there
a remnant of vacation
a connection to the sea
perhaps the nerves
lost singing
through the night I walked
alone on sand the
dogs came barking
from the Atlantic
drenched and draped
in seaweed and I thought
of familiar love how
unbroken longing forever
intertwines in the bending
gravity of the moon
(originally published in Plum Tree Tavern, Spring 2019)