turtle instinct
now just a reflex
coax me out

dried pink rose
poem from his coat pocket
my heart skips

moonlight serenade
a gentle smile as you call
the police

late night slumber
party
giggling about boys

flowers
for the girlfriend
with allergies

river divides
the two sides
narrow, worn bridge to cross

holding hands
over candles,
two men

time slows
as we sink
into the water

feelings for
my prom date
cousin Earl

Sunday morning
your tickling kisses
wake me

last dance
he holds her
close

red roses
for his Valentine—
mother’s tombstone

my heart
as bitter as
the chocolate

little child
who crayons the wall
mother's true love

he must think I’ve
got super powers
invisible

slow dance—
I sit and watch
the girl I want to be

a card or song
anything…
as long as I’m with you

you
see
me

surrounded by family
yet he reaches
for my hand

you kiss my cheek
as grandma tells you
I’m a keeper

grandmother cries
tears to the grave
a lonely Valentine's Day

always
she never leaves my side
hand unreachable

          you and I
a ballad of
      the falling
             autumn leaves

the lights
turned off
it's a good thing

couple's dinner special
the old man
eating alone

at the bottom of the movie
two silhouettes
of a first love

enduring every new boy
my constant valentine
daddy

9:00 pm
my housemate
with the noisy bedsprings

karamelsutra        fudgasm

swallowing her holy wafer
she licks her lips
for the altar boy

long day at work
red thong on the floor
that isn’t mine

hands cover her eyes
guess who?
only a memory

my first dance
I said no
. . . he wouldn’t stop

your fish
swimming
in my tears

beauty mark—
just enough
to get your attention

kissing you
alone
in a crowded room

forever engraved
two unknown names
in the old oak

best friends
one sentence
changes everything

loving his irises
I settle
for kissing his lids

roommates on dates
but my valentine—
managerial accounting

I come home
smelling of sandwich
she doesn't mind

lonely evening
watching his crush - kiss
her girlfriend!?

serving catholic communion
unholy hands
horny altar boy

she looks for love
in the mirrors
of the hotel lobby

listen
to your voice
slide up my thigh

a candy heart
misprinted . . .
“UR INE”

silence
his glance
a gift

foreign
forbidden
figurative

little black dress
stilettos—
forgetting him

your tears
won’t dissolve my will
this time

warm arms
I once ran to--
folded

he wants to talk—
I sense my
inevitable loneliness

Valentine's dinner
trying to ignore
the waitress's cleavage

melting in my hands,
I love you so much,
barbecue sandwich

February 15th
rubbing lotion
on rug-burned knees

counter full
of flower bouquets
unfamiliar names

waiting where he works
until closing time
for a goodnight kiss

on the mirror
in lipstick
Happy Valentine’s Day

away from you
I embrace
my pillow

almost forgotten
hidden memories
under my bed

a sparkle in his eyes . . .
he carries me
up the stairs

two left feet
I salsa anyway
just to see her smile

our 2nd minute in heaven
she tells me
Heather kisses better

eclectic
I’d give it all up
for you

longing to strip
away
his bravado

together with her
all my mountains
feel as mounds

earth’s rotation
     stops—     I stumble
into you

you cement
another brick
in my wall

my footprints
and your love
erased

sassy and single
I am my own
valentine

a wilted yellow tulip
waiting in the glove box
shows how he cares

Times Square
passionately kissing a girl
he doesn't know