Stocking shelves

She spent the day in
aisle 6, cold flu remedies,
wellness boxed, bottled.

Dizzy

Why his head spins he
doesn’t know. Vertigo’s made
the world hell’s fun house.

Afternoon rendezvous

She blithely sails out
the door. No explanations
save her secret smile.

Mommy friendships

If all we have in
common is our kids, that’s not
an enduring match.

Fiscal cliff

Cost to average
household: Five thousand. Voting
the bums out: Priceless.

 

College midterms

She calls, panicked, freaked.
Can’t breathe, can’t focus, can’t write.
I soothe, long distance.

Last day of 16

Some days she doesn’t
fit into her skin, too young
to be old this soon.

Missing Chicago

City of Shoulders
Your fountains bring tears, your sky
scrapers pierce my heart.

Doing too much at Disneyworld

At the Happiest
Place on Earth, worn-out tots shriek,
deprived of their naps.

Disneyworld Character Meet & Greets

With more handlers than
Lindsay, their paparazzi –
parents; stalkers – tots.