lying in the grass,
counting stars instead of sheep-
backyard campout

cool breeze
slides its arms around me-
a welcome embrace...

in the heat of night
I listen for footsteps-
distant thunder
rolls somewhere
beyond the horizon...

my pulse
suddenly quickens-
forecast calls for rain...

the soft scent
of lavender
rests on my pillow
as early morning dreams
take me back to our first night...

crescent moon
hangs above the treetops
like a whisper

I extinguish
the midnight flame
of a candle,
but thoughts of you remain-
undying embers

the man in the moon
laughs at me without mercy-
I stand blushing
in the shadows-
my strongest weakness revealed

your laughter
fills my senses-
reminding me
of all the reasons
that you and I became "us"

hot summer night
leaves me breathless and thirsting
for rain...

watercolor stars-
His artistry revealed
in the night sky

the warmth

of my child's body

wrapped in my embrace-

I hold her, wondering how

I ever lived without it...

through tearful laughter,
sisters pack boxes
and recall
an old, familiar song-
some things never change

sweeter still,
the moment before we touch-
bridled passion
teaches me once again
the meaning of want

as lightning strikes,
his hand brushes my skin-
electricity...

like the breeze,
my thoughts drift away
to be where you are...

roses
longing for a drink-
I water them,
thinking how long it's been
since I last heard your voice

although we're apart,
the same moon that lights my path
smiles outside
your open window-
he knows the secrets we share...

at twenty-seven,
summer freckles splash my face
once again-
a subtle reminder
of the girl I was...

a snowflake
melts on my child's eyelashes-
nothing stays the same

hair ribbons
sit tangled in a box-
too soon forgotten...

stillness
after a summer rainstorm-
the loudest silence...

drop of sweat slides
down my cheek as fireflies
dance around me-
southern summers slip
away just as quickly...

honeysuckle
covers the broken fence-
masquerade

lying in our bed
as sirens break the silence-
missing his warmth...

grandaughter,

dandelion in hand,

traces his name

with her finger on the stone-

her brown eyes tell his story...