Written: March 18, 2026 You never truly died – not really.You’re in every breeze upon my face and every freckle upon my shoulders.I see it every day; even more now that I’m older. You’re alive in every laugh, every smile, every joke,And every summer night, you’re alive in the charcoal grill’s smoke. Your nose in…

Written: February 24, 2026 One phrase, one comment, one word,Suddenly I’m 14 again.Chest aches. I withdraw into the shell that has proven itself bulletproof.No one can reach me here. I am safe.I am not a disappointment.I am strong. I am a survivor. Here, it is just me and my broken cd cases. My pushpins. My…

Written: February 18, 2026 A hummingbird’s egg, trust, and the heart.Glass windows, tissue paper, and a dried leaf.Lightbulbs, balance, and snowflakes.Tears, butterfly wings, and antiques.Soft-shelled crabs, a whisper, and a web. Each one precious. Each one fragile. None quite so as a child’s life. For Leo. 1/18/12 – 2/19/26

Written: January 14, 2026 As the leaves goSo our lives goRapidlyViolentlyRipped, thrashed, torn, bandaged Anew Before you can blink, roots rot, branches break, colors disintegrate Only the strong survive. Change.

Written: December 13, 2025 Laughter glistens off snowbanksSounds soak into the softness Chaos stills–life in a snow globe Snow cream, a nap by the fireplace,A basketball too depressed for the storm Zombies consume the mailbox Walks through the wood to the frozen pond,Not to skate, but to breathe in the still. Cold hands in spite…

Written: December 10, 2025 Bright lights, big city;I’m in love with a memory Dreaming of what it could beWaking up to him in the kitchenMaking eggs and coffee Arms safely around me–on the couch, the bed, the train,The car, the kitchen, and on the street But I’m in love with a memory Kindness, humor, compassion,…

Written: January 6, 2026 For changeFor loveFor hopeFor happy I wait. Good news! Surgery over!Came through fine! I wait. Better. Worse. Waiting. To see you again.The wait is the worst of all.

Written: October 22, 2025 Trigger warning for self harm/suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out for help. You are not alone.  There are a couple resources below, but there are more listed on the Help page.-National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255-Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 POEM BELOW NightmaresScreamsFingers pointing at…

Written: October 15, 2025 Forgiveness is… A fishing rod, tackle box, comic books, a clockGravy stains splashed across tile and blood on a coffee potAn ashtray, a car, photographs, a chairAwake at 16, alone and scared A palm tree, a jersey, a game, a tvA smashed music box–destroyed, like dreamsDolphins and anger and a broken…

Written: February 6, 2025 Is it fear?My grandmother’s icy eyes blown wide with terror.As long as I live, I’ll never forget her. His truck parked right out there in the driveA horror to see, but we’re still alive. Is it death?It’s as cold as the sedation pads wrapped around my father as he took his…

Written: February 6, 2025 Fury. Danger. Love. Hockey. Blush. The blood my mother cleaned from my wounded knee.The blood shed by those who came before me. Power. October. Fire. Elmo. Cherries. My best friend’s car with the milkshake in the floorboard.The ketchup I dip my fries in just to have a taste more. An album.…

Written: January 15, 2025 Summer is June bugs and thunderstormsSummer is lightning bugs and bumble beesSummer is hot sand and shark teeth–grills and mosquitoes and fireworks and swimming,Baseball and roadtrips and meteor showers on a blanket in the night Summer is deck dancing on Easy StreetSummer is goodbyeSummer is helloWarm breeze stealing icy snow from…

Written: March 18, 2022 Shadows shift on a moonlit nightThe edges sharp with dreadFrom a distance come the wails:“Oh God, my baby is dead!” The darkness stalks its preyMoving silently through the nightAnd on and on and on we runAway with all our might Til tomorrow does the dawn comeGlimmering brilliantly in her hairAt once…

Written: May 24, 2024 I’m my own worst enemyI’ve heard it a thousand timesI just can’t defeat itNo matter how hard I try I hear grace, love, and compassionIt’s all in my head–for others only, though–I don’t love myself in the same fashion I feel like an imposter, a loser, a fuck up, a floaterAnd…

Written: April 24, 2024 Trigger warning for thoughts of self harm/suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out for help. You are not alone. There are a couple resources below, but there are more listed on the Help page.-National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255-Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 POEM BELOW…

Written: March 20, 2024 Your fuzzy black ears blow softly in the breezeWhile you’re laying right there on the blanket beside me You roll and stretch and smellAnd I know the day you leave will be absolute hellFor now I watch the wind kiss the flowers and the bees and your noseAnd, if but for…

Written: March 2024, in loving memory of my daddy who I lost in 2017. There’s more to doNo you can’t leaveWhat’ll I do without you beside me? I don’t understandNo we weren’t through yetOne more walk in the sandThat’s all I want from you They say I’ve got your nose, got your smile, got your…

Written: January 23, 2024 Youth, we hope, will save usOur youth, “their” youthAny youth–just save us We hope youth and innocence will protect the kids. Any. All.Just protect them. It doesn’t work that way. Kids die. Cancer. Bullets. Cars. Fire. Drugs. Noose. In the end, we all lose. We barrel towards death never knowing when…

Written: January 16, 2024 I see spiralsI feel spiralsLike a spiral maze with no way outTwistedTurnedUpside down, trapped, and backwardsSpiraling towards a destination unknown But it is The grave Spiraling with no love and no childrenSpiraling in lossSpiraling at a loss for whyBut spinning and spiraling all the while Do you see it? Can you…

Written: July 29, 2025 Spiders spin and owls “hoo hoo”,A soft breeze blows, light and cool.Unseen friends croak and chirp their sweet melody,And thank goodness! The deafening silence is too much for me The sun has long since lay down its head,And all the stars have risen from bed.The breeze blows through the leaves so…

Written: October 7, 2025 Attendants directing, “turn left here”Tailgaters hollering when old friends appear Announcements bellowing, and “Order 204!”“Which way is your seat?” “Down there, towards the floor” “Enjoy the game!”, and fans singing loudCheers of joy coming from the whole crowd Bench doors slamming, and Stormy’s flag wavingAll hands clapping, and “get home safely”…

I’m not one to post my poetry. I’m not confident. It’s never quite good enough. Nothing ever is, though, right? So here I am. Thanks for joining me on this journey of vulnerability.