5

When it snows at the end of October

you and I must spend sunday in bed

or walk down sunny streets

to sit in chairs

When we are eating breakfast

in a room with walls

we must look around

and on our plates

There are eggs and potatoes

toast and small containers of jam

to my right tea in a tall glass

across from me is you

these things are talking to us

if we are talking back?

-Hannah

Cut up metal cans and shreds of silver
Pushed under the plastic mat, covered up
With heat so high and dry no moisture survives
Open windows and loosely straighten up

Above the curtains large white can be seen
Unseasonably cold for October
With heat so high no moisture survives
The snow is easily forgotten here

Friends with their friends stand around, talk, and laugh
So young it is sad to think of aging
With heat so high no moisture survives
It breaks up sleep and inspires strange dreams

Walking through morning patches of sunlight
Outside is such a relief from this heat

-KM

4

each day
getting darker
minutes earlier
&

getting colder
so my window
stays
&

feathered
blankets
come out
&

i will need you to keep
me warm
-Hannah


sounds travel in ripples up stairs, through walls
this heat needs escape, it needs room to breathe
with one twist, muscle memory recalls
turn it off, consciousness begins to leave

a few short trips help to change surroundings
three times with knees leaning up against a chair
dreams are welling up while thoughts are drowning
through this darkness traveling elsewhere

direction does not matter, left or right
away is a place, a destination
hours pass like minutes, day into night
plans need a last-minute cancellation

fall's chill enters through the drafty window
pull blankets closer, close eyes, then thoughts go
-KM

3

set your week inside a job application:

i am qualified to wake up each morning
especially if it is not sunny.
& self-start my morning routine.

i am capable of meeting children
with stickers and smiles
i can create an environment
discuss patterns that repeat.

and in the past, past weeks
look! all this accomplished
cleaning dishes and walking
being here

lose hope
to gain hope back
-Hannah



Remember when
there were so
many
dreams

Remember when
you never
stopped to
look

Remember when
urgency
drove you
on

Remember to be here now, use this time
To make your life what you want it to be
-KM

2

At the beginning of the week it rained
online the sky was clouded
there was no sun, so
I will make lists for you + you + me

Some times in lists I try to decide
what is important to remember
Lots of times I end up thinking about
laundry + trees + you + saints

Other times I make notes in
conversations with other people
Sarah smiles, Kim's eye + guts
people pass, people stay

This time I sit in a chair
that keeps changing
blue on blue on blue on blue
-turn it around.

Through all times-
keep the energy pretty, babe.
-Hannah

Sheets and blankets wrapped up in cool, blue light

Gold strands dangle and dance above my head

Softly it transitions to day from night

Listen to the silence, lie still in bed

Climb into seats, after walking through cars

Large green letters flash destination names

Lights scattered, like a night sky filled with stars

Station to station, exit or board trains

6am, load into the silver van

Belt too tight, use window to rest my head

Stare through glass while they’re forming today’s plan

Lights lull me to sleep, patterns white and red

Shift so subtle from awake to asleep

Into dreams these last visions gently seep

-KM

1

a list of things to do everyday:

yawn loudly and stretch upward

watch out of windows

talk in circles

a list of things to do:

scrub dishes and wash hair

think about home

draw circles

a list:

walk

talk

circles

through out

hands holding hands

-Hannah

Looking up, not sure how it came to be
How strange it is to wake up on the floor
Memory and senses return slowly
Eyes focus on men walking through the door

Blurry ride, wobbly walk, head wrapped in gauze
Lives sustained by the scattered beeping sound
Dr. says dehydration was the cause
You save me from collapsing on the ground

Spanish infomercials play while muted
Pain in my stomach and chills up my spine
Screams 'cause she's getting electrocuted
Under fluorescent lights, your hand in mine

Squeeze your hand: she sews in seven stitches

Cab home, sleep, sleep, eat, medicine, more sleep

Three days: sleep, careful steps, and eye twitches

But something quiet happened, something deep

Missed the farm, missed the act, missed autumn sun

But looking up, I found a reason.

-KM