ten stars

stars fall into places
rolling dice and dot-connected
decisions, blink
in my handful of dandelion
pieces, my wishes
all for you.

~

RNH

cascade

water cascades in a pool marked,
no swimming
and the fences distinguish between yours
and mine
ownership, the separation
of the county line, a city's agreed-upon
apartheid, how did poverty and crime draw such red
scars upon young faces ?

~

RNH

life support

palms have rested upon tiny
shoulders, their growing
curiosity, who to contend
who to trust
and experience has witnessed
words adhered to, faith
absorbed and the strength
to persevere demonstrated as fearlessly
as it is taught.

~

RNH

3-Week Mother

i'll have to take him back, she said, if
he continues to have these
problems
like a broken toy
needing fixing, the realization
as sudden as the box
opening.

~

RNH

phoenix

without the pillars broken
one would never have been
rebuilt
without an all-consuming
fire, no
transformation.

~

RNH

bury

leaned into the L-shape
ghost of a collarbone and curved
neck, bowed
face, clasped
by your hands.

~

RNH

connection

candles pinched
single street lights numbed
and the message the night blurs,
tangles in ubiquity

string to paper cup hopes
with trembling hands, the bliss
not so far
as the steady stars between us.

~

RNH