7 march

resolving to make resolutions
as if solutions work by naming them
if you don't know the question
how wrong the answer is doesn't matter
tomorrow i will start another phase
raising the bar
dropping the baton
no one else to pass off to
the picture that i take myself
of myself
develops myself

6 march

yes there were tickets avalable
but instead it was dark
by the time i stopped outside
no one was waiting to miss me
dinner too late and regret for dessert
but still the calm of quiet
pillow blanket velvetrich dark
where else to turn to but sleep

5 march

when i realize i'm not sure what i eat exactly
friends and colleagues who worry when we go out
"that they'll have something you eat"
my student who softened her peers to yoga
gently explaining "there are people who eat only light
and i imagine
this is what i should serve
myself
the simplest menu with no looking down
dinner fo rone
a snap to set the table
but no one else to ask
balance dishes or eat from a pan
the one-pot meal of campfire fame
pizza fondue when we tired of mountain pies
the mythical dream team summer
basketball in the AC basement
finedining breakfast of cornfkales with sugar
tasting the space
waking up to possibilities
mine is the wonderwhy diner
stool at the counter when it's past dinner time
eggs and a milkshake
grilled cheese and cocoa
what would i even serve
hardly an invitation - given or received
two placemats - one a placeholder
sometimes dreams and sometimes dessert
frozen yogurt for lunch
vegetables wilting into regret - the fridge, the counter
a week without a dishwashing
one spoon, one water glass
banana peels in uncomical repose
invitation notwithstanding, there is nothing much to serve
diner alone shrugs at the menu
spreads a napkin, waits

4 march

waiting for the snow
for the rainy dark and jagged day
to smooth over
bright light and wipe away dreams
sanding the rough edges
a blanker shade of space
open waiting wide
goodbye to all the question wonder
the rollover worries that blow through thought
wind in the ears and tired eyes
hope after others to fade
closing and turning away
otherwise mornings to come
white as the freshness of empty

3 march

it's a small box
once you step inside
tucking up the flaps
roofing up the top
the wind gets in the cracks
the light pokes through the holes
until you fix it cram it pack it
safe in a snug tight space
dark in an airless box

2 march

instead of asking
knowing the answer is NO
etter spend that time
energy
effort
turning the dial to YES
not by pushing pleading angsty drama
show not tell -
as any good story is written -
a preponderance of evidence
stacking up to WHAT ELSE COULD THERE BE
laughing i would toss my head
catch it again, continue to bowl over

1 march

and in the end
quietly forward
no waiting for
hoping against
leaning into
setting prepositional phrases up for takedown
even as snow falls
as pace crawls
there is somewhere to go
ears open eyes show the way