Clean sweep

My spare bedroom holds
many possibilities
under all that junk.

Alone time

I burn candles and
incense. Maintain silence. Find
myself in nothing.

Knitting project

Fat balls of yarn crowd
my home like clawless kittens,
needling me to start.

Because they can

No greater self-love
than a dog licking itself
with satisfaction.

Substitution

Sometimes, the hunger
that compels you to eat a
cookie is sadness.

Protection

Soldiers wear helmets.
Women wear makeup, styled hair.
Our mode of defense.

Fifth sense

Could I love you if
we did not touch, if I did
not mark you as mine?

Unbroken

The house of my heart
is white, clean, pure. No windows,
doors. No visitors.

Anticipation

Making travel plans,
like getting dressed for a date,
is a leap of faith.

Oh Christmas tree

We bring it home, put
it on life support so we
can hang ornaments.