10

in one year i wore my hair back
sat outside with my father
started slowly
dry leaves, thin sticks

things that smoked
caused a signal
a smell that lives
ash that stays

all this
by the dogwood tree
under the back porch
a struggle for it

to survive
to remember
-Hannah



looking through a friend's photographs
people and places I don't know
some now dead, most nearly
(must've been fun)

boxes filled with objects and papers
forgotten, neglected, not needed
sort, discard, pack away what remains
gather dust in a new place

the similar heroes re-appear
why can't we be more like them
running into people from the past
and still haven't done anything

standing on a cold balcony
disconnect the night
-KM