Snow Garden

Our yard was a garden
of snow and our father
was the gardener. He
made snow forts and
an obstacle course of
sorts for my sisters and
me in the front yard one
winter. It was an exciting
adventure, and a little
bit scary, but I felt safe
knowing that Dad was
guiding the sled and
guarding the fort. I still
remember his laugh
that day as we squealed
with delight, holding tight
to the orange, plastic sled.

For What It’s Worth

When a musician dies,

I read their obit,

buy one of their records,

and study their story.

I want to honor their life

and their work,

their life's work

and their life's worth.

(the smell of a coffeehouse:)

the smell of a coffeehouse:
one of the things I fell
in love with in college

(Miles Davis on tap)

Miles Davis on tap
grape juice in the stereo
a New Year's Eve day

In the Company of Angels

I keep the photo in a box,

the box that my grandmother

gave me one Christmas,

the box that holds a single

glass angel ornament with golden trim.

I tuck the picture

underneath the angel

for safe keeping.

The photograph captures

the Christmas that you

spent with us 18 years ago

in Nashville.

This is the first Christmas

that Grand is no longer with us,

and the first Christmas 

that the two of you,

complete strangers,

will somehow keep each other

company.

(Christmas cat –)

Christmas cat –
bedside greeting
begins with a pounce

Confessional

I have a taste
for the dark side.
And my two-fisted
drink preparation
gives me away
every time.

I make it a double,
now that one
simply doesn’t
cut it anymore.
My tolerance has
increased, as has
my thirst.

Does that make me
a junkie,
an addict?
Perhaps.

I’m not ashamed
of my need
for that extra shot.
It makes the day
tolerable,
worth living,
and I’m not afraid
to admit it.

You want me to
own up to the truth
for my
own good?

Well, fine.
I’ll shout it
from the rooftops.

I’VE TAKEN TO STEEPING
TWO TEA BAGS AT ONCE!

(ban on "bored" meetings:)

ban on "bored" meetings:
espresso, shortbread cookies;
jazz records on low

(cat in a frenzy:)

cat in a frenzy:
from the window --
watching falling leaves

(eyes widen:)

eyes widen:
brilliant, cranberry-
orange-colored foliage

(five neighborhood birds)

five neighborhood birds

chirping neighborly

from rooftop to rooftop

(You're like a rabid)

You're like a rabid

porcupine -- impossible

to safely engage.

Seasonal Criminals

There's something about
summertime sandals --

they're too much

to handle

when it comes to

the stench that

sweaty feet and

leather create.

My nostrils don't

celebrate or salivate about

the smell that emanates

from the partnership

that perpetrates

heinous crimes
against olfactory.

(raucous roof ruling:)

raucous roof ruling:

sparrows playing hide and seek

in the rain gutter

(cardinal bathing)

cardinal bathing
under the coffee shop's
downspout

We

We shared a Blockbuster card,

a bed,

and a secret.

summertime supper

potato chips and

French onion dip, sunshine, and

fresh watermelon

A Letter to the Predator

Dear straight Christian friend,

When you post a picture of
a burning gay pride flag online,
I am not merely encountering
an expression of an opinion.
I don't simply see a person
making a statement
about an issue.
I don't view it as
an individual "deeply devoted
to a faith based on mercy and grace"
taking a stand amidst a culture war.

I see my friend
advocating -- and perpetrating --
violence against me.
I feel threatened
and frightened
and sickened.
I see -- with my own eyes --
my friend proclaiming
to me and the world
that I am worthy of abuse.
I witness my friend
declaring me fit for
gasoline
and matches
and burning flesh
and torture
and death.

I see that my friend --
my "loving, compassionate, Christ-like" friend --
is not, in fact, my friend at all.

-- Your gay neighbor

(summertime snow)

summertime snow
cottonwood seeds
float, flit and blow

Women and Spoken Word and Brunch! Oh, My!

Ladies, join us this Sunday for Go Girl Saugatuck's Spirit Sunday Brunch!  I will kick off the spoken word presentation with a set of my own and help to facilitate an open mic session thereafter. 

 

Sunday, June 5, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Isabel's Market & Eatery

310 Blue Star Highway

Douglas, MI

 

For more information about the entire women's weekend and lineup -- including the brunch -- please visit Go Girl Saugatuck.