9o

willing to trade in

one inch of joy

for one more mile of pain
that will come if this all breaks.
it’s funny how love screws up math.
one plus one equals infinity.
that’s how it goes.

8o

sometimes, i feel like i will never be safe again. but somehow, my golden cowboy can take my twisted and deformed anxieties, and with his skillful fingers, mold them into form while setting them on display shelfs.

see? all better.

7o

we were like kids this weekend -
hair flapping when we rolled around arkansas
on your four wheeler.
you teaching me how to fish.
shooting at aluminum cans in the grass.

i saw stars…
not like the speckled ones here -
but tons of them lighting the fresh sky.
i asked if you knew any constellations
and you said no.
but such things don’t need names.

we both jumped when we thought a stick was a snake
and promised not to tell anyone about it.

but most of all -
i saw you in your element.
dirty hair. sunburn. and glistening blue eyes.
this was my best easter yet.

6o

i had bought a “trendy” girl shirt. i wanted to impress.

so i got all done up. hair, makeup, cute top… and waited for my door to knock. cowboy chuckled when he saw me in it. he said it wasn’t me – and he was right.

i won’t stray from my cartoon t-shirts again.

5o

i was so embarrassed -
no audience to witness my folly,
but shaken all the same.
it was morning
and i was getting ready for work.
and i touch my left hand and look for my wedding ring.
a step back.