unemployment

the cold air clings comfortably
and i dive deeper into blankets,
currently content with
the lulling hums of
my towels on spin cycle
and dishes rinsing rhythmically
in my very own kitchen.
five minutes pass quickly
watching the icy rain
slide silently down my
big picture window
before the guilt hits hard,
a stormy wave of anxiety
attacks my nerves
and i jump up,
remembering the hundreds of things
i should be doing
like reorganizing the closets
or resweeping the floors
or deciding on tommorrows's dinner,
but the new me takes over
and my breathing slows
and i curl back into the couch,
because 'life should be enjoyable,'
i hastily tell myself.
and there are scrubs reruns
left to be seen.

there's only two things I do well, sweetheart, and skating's the other one

so 2007. wow. so many firsts..

got married
lived with a dude
killed a raccoon with a gun
backpacked with just vail
killed a snake with a rock
hitchhiked
managed a coffee shop
baked professionally
skiied vail
seen the rockies
attended a dulaney family fourth of july picnic
fell in love with the west
bought a washer and dryer
woke up elsewhere christmas morning
IKEA
realized i like Bob Dylan..

it was a good year. hard at times but i wouldn't change a second. nearly every weekend i was in a different town, and i like it that way. i feel so blessed to have so many friends in so many places and a husband who loves me just the way i am right here by my side. i wouldn't trade my life for the world.

We've Got TV

subtly stoic
your sad eyes
see through me
to my helpless heart,
hopelessly yours,
beaten by
black waves of
anxiety and regret,
shredded with
tasteless desire
and dictated by
emotional half truths,
bitter propaganda,
but kept beating
by god through
the beating
of your own.

i see yours too-
heavy with
unfelt feeling
and laced with
longing for
something more,
something untamed,
something dangerous.
insatiable lust
for escapades
to be determined.
but for now,
here’s me.
and we’ve got
tv.

black sheets

this bed echoes silence,
emptied of you tonight
(how relieved
must the neighbors be?)
freed from the sticky
heat of your skin,
i lie newly oppressed
by the cool comfort
of a sultry
summer storm
without you.

dry shoulder

cry on me.
it’s not ok.
enough with the lies.
its all spinning faster
and sucking you
down wind from
the daylight.
you pray
but he's still
sick.
you beg
but they've all
succumbed to the
nagging noise of
defeat.
its become
deafening,
deadly-
as time is
running low
and your body
wains, weary
from the pain
of provision
for a family who
can't stand
without your
maternal arms
to hold them up.
it's not ok.
so cry on my
dry shoulder.
i'll be your arms
for the moment.

henna blossoms

i had a dream
you nearly died
and so did i
watching your eyes
roll back
and back again
to my own

i'd get along
without your
weathered hands
on my skin
but what is life
without warmth?

"arise, my darling,
and come with me,"
and we will live
today

frustration

Stuck in the fast lane
Going twenty-five
Late to the thing
With black dresses and ties.
Lost my wallet,
Plastic and all,
Forgot the flowers
Didn’t make the call.
Tripped while running
To catch the plane
Got blood on my pants
Cursed in pain
As mom walked by
Jarred by my tone
She slapped my head
Broke my phone.
Check Engine light on
Smells like kerosene.
Boyfriend calls
Says he’s coming clean
Messed around last year,
Last month, last week??
Jerk blows his horn,
Cigarette’s dropped.
Shit, that’s a fire.
Oh shit, that’s a cop.