Escaping the Tree

In my dream, I told Kimo and Alta to stay put. If that crying was the cat calling out, then…

Life Is Pieces

My father swinging a pickaxe rhythmicallyUp over his head and slamming it downThe point piercing hard red clayBreaking it all…

Any fear Kimo had of this being a trap evaporated instantly. Off he trotted toward the singing damsel in distress.…

Kimo and I advanced cautiously up the hill. When we reached spots where the old man had difficulty, I, as…

Even though I heard the question, and certainly understood it, I couldn’t remember, in my fever, what my name was.…

Then out of the gloomy forest came first that burning yellow glow. Those eyes.As the feline figure sauntered toward us,…

Given his age and athletic build, I wondered if I could keep up with my guide. But I needn’t have worried…

Frustratingly, however, I could see the big cat lurking above me every time I tried to turn back upward. What this…

It’s time to bagLeft over long underwearUndershirt and sweater layersShed it all like snakeskinPeel yourself right downTo that hungry pale…

So while I half dreamed of wandering around in what I can only describe as that shadowland of worry and…

I’m long past middle age, but my joke has always been that no matter how old I get, I will…

He’d done his fair share of laughing over 70 years. His sense of humor was well-developed through the constant exercise…

I lie half here in my roomThe other somewhere vague Wonder much of me shiveringIn blackness and sweat soaked Strain…

When she develops a routineShe’ll stop for nothingHours passing with only pausing brieflyHer method to add a few movementsThink and…

It is a large party. My neighborhood is a quiet one. Usually. But tonight valet parkers – valet parkers —…

My city takes place before meEvery day of my lifeA show me and tell meI have a hard time rememberingCan’t…

But everyone disappears, no matter who loves them. — Dave Eggers At 69 his body rememberedThe punchingOne oneTwo one twoThree…

Butterscotch Life SaversOne of my dad’s favoritesI used to eat an entire rollEat myself butterscotch sticky sickI’m sure it was…

Once upon a time, Mrs. Onigawa was a good neighbor. Everyone thought so. It was a golden age for neighborhoods, a…

I’ve rolled down this hill beforeA million times coasting in neutralIn reverse sometimes for the challengeOver the shoulder with slight…