He buried them all — Puny, wizened child arrived wrong, jolting all into action: Prayers lobbed in all directions, Immediate baptism executed With such speed neighbors were amazed It was holy, real, and binding. He lived, thrived, grew up a thinker Who also loved adventure, his or anyone else’s. Life hurtled until diverted to another track Where he…

Grief Will Not Deceive the Flowers — You’re in a terrible place. Unthinkable has slammed you so hard You can’t catch your breath, Don’t want to open your eyes to disaster Following tragedy on top of horrible. Terrible and I are old friends. I’m the quiet one in the corner, Back pressed firmly into couch, Jaw dropped, eyes wide, Watching people…

Don’t Breathe a Word to Him — “Gina! You awake?” Gina woke with a jolt. Clutching the sheets to her heart, she scanned the bedroom. Streaks of scarlet and deep purple stained the sky. Sultry saxophone sorrow glided through the French windows. “Maryanne, is that you?” Gina whispered at a willowy shadow in the doorway. “Shhh…” Maryanne…

We laughed our surprise — Unexpected me ran into unsuspecting happy Neither of us braced, prepared with bright smile and words To greet one another like we had met before Which would have been very nice, but wasn’t the truth. The truth of us is shifty-eyed glances and tentative brush of hand On gullible other smiling at deliberate accident best…

Start where you are — She’s about to do something supremely stupid. Her ex is settling onto a park bench to stare at place they once lived, loved, and believed they’d found forever in each other. Forever lasted 248 days. It ended with disbelief they’d ever believed they were meant to be. Supremely stupid is…

Prompt #7: Rapidly Changing Technology — I take pride in being bilingual. I am conversant in paper and digital, choosing the tool that works best to accomplish what I set out to do. My best thinking, wondering, and problem-solving comes with walking. Sprawled on huge blank pages, insights take shape, growing into structure when I continue…

What shall it be today? — She does not respect my time or my desperate desires to plan, Execute, and enjoy the being done with my impossible goal today. She whispers that nothing is impossible, winks, twists her pearls, Whirls away in music only she can hear unless she lets me listen in. I discover myself racing down rabbit holes…

Response to the Writing Prompt on the Theme of Migratory Birds. — Monsters do not fear the light — some walk among us wearing daytime grins. What scares us most is not solved by bright light, clean corners, and dousing With lavender spray, sage smudges, remedies that moderate highs and lows So we live at a carefully adjusted, medium-pitched frequency requiring Care and oversight to ensure…

Our Past is Not Our Present — Or Our Future — History rests heavy on our backs, slows our feet with failed dreams memories. That might be true — if we allow it to decide who we are and what we do next. The past is present and extends into the future, but we are the ones With our aching backs, grimy hands…