Mountain Girl at peace:
barefoot in the grass along
Elkhorn Creek Road

slight chill
warmth in my soul
apple cider

cold metal
scrapes the concrete
patio chair

under the haystack
remnants
of last year's Jack-O-Lantern

the pouring rain falls
i sit in my room
reminiscing

I sit on a log
by the crackling fire
the cricket

he watches me
showing off his new hat
the scarecrow falls over

red and blue bandanas
just colors or so
much more

the lone wolf
in search of his
own destiny

full moon overhead
curled up in a ball
I lay in a haystack

falling aimlessly
until it hits the ground
the leaf

a cool wind blowing
leaves scattered all around
awaiting the children

his hand in mine
as we rock back and forth
just my baby and me sweetie

I gather them all
the orange leaves turn
into bag-shaped pumpkins

sweet caramel
sour apple
. . . I think I lost a tooth

goblins and ghosts run
witches and ghouls fill the night
I'm an I.R.S. agent

laying on the grass
in cool Autumn sun
a wooden flute from far away

i sit on a rock
stray black dog lies down and listens
a story of sobs

eyes that lock across the dance floor
we move like liquid, closer
in and out of time

barefoot in the lobby
I step—
on a fingernail clipping

middle of the lake
grey clouds overhead
the silence killing me

late night study session 
her and i 
practicing physics

slanting rays
bleach hair lovingly
whisking uniforms

brisk morning 
the fat man 
running with no shirt

back to jr. high—
the chili peppers
on the classic rock station

he watches me
showing off his new hat
the scarecrow falls over

singles bar 
the jukebox plays 
our old song 

October dusk
gnomes scurry into
warm burrows

candy gems
grrr...inded
in witches' teeth

hands clasp tightly
move quick
past pretty girls

water to my knees
children dying
I found a mail truck

first one home—
turning on
all the lights

reaching up expectantly
last pop tart...
gone

ceramic basin
overflowing with water
no plunger in sigh