i have stopped breathing,

listening to his story,

scared of the ending.

books and libraries
used to remind me of you
now i don't go in.

snap chat inside jokes
question marks as a reply
you're on the outside.

flirty violin,
and heightened conversation,
wine on a weekday

Sure, you can wear jeans
with your high heels and dress shirt
not quite casual

This week’s topic is - 

preparation’s importance – 

I procrastinate.

catching sight of you -
baseball hat always backwards -
a nice reminder

Ready to come home

Bed isn’t warm without you

Tired of the cold 

Toastmasters, time up

Pyramid schemes and kool-aid

But no leadership.

Orange toast survivors

Recruitment email is like

Flares sent from islands.

Mike asks four questions

Learners just keep clicking “next”

We need more training!

24 years old
i remember waking up
seeing her dark eyes.

mentally ill child

how else do you explain him

to rational folks?

no longer homemade
our favourite restaurant has
disappointed us.

we sit at your house
light shining in high windows
cozy beneath the ground.

my day filled with friends

finished with a quiet meal

my soul is rested.

jogging up my street

i stop to talk to neighbours

and rest.  whatever.

garlic bread and wine
the dinner of champions
at least the stressed ones.

i hired a maid
my mother's condemnation
echoes in my head.

september heat wave

nobody is complaining

indian summer.

mourning vacation
my black car a driving dirge
my stories comfort.

one more vacation

punctuated by mowing

grass as quotations.

on the road, again,
this time headed towards home,
and all that entails.

i walked everywhere
and then went even further
ended up with you.

taverns in quebec

we drink, until we do not,

and then stumble home.

september sunburn
patios in halifax
shit, the car got towed!

are we there yet, i
ask inside my own head as
he narrates our route

atlantic supper -
brine-soaked meat and vegetables
covered in mustard.

the beautiful cliffs

make for stunning photographs,

melancholy thoughts.

running out of gas
bright sun on the barren road
laughing as we wait.

brisket for breakfast
we must be in montreal
and on vacation.