3 poems

Seven Shiny Bears

1 yellow, 2 pink, 3 blues, and 1 red bear
7 shiny stickers adorn the wall –
1 for every time he was amazing to me
         For when he drove to the store at 3 AM to get 
         Gatorade and Flintstones chewables 
         Because I had to get well to take a test at noon
         And slept on the couch to be near
         Just in case I needed him
A tiny gold cat, a sparkling rose, a green dog
For smaller deeds
         Calling just to say ‘I love you’
         Cliché beyond belief
         But when it really happens, it’s wonderful

One small sticker comes off every time I want to scream;
One shiny bear comes off every time I cry.

I’m only 18,
I shouldn’t be thinking so far ahead –

But I’ve never had so many shiny bears before.


~*~*~*~


Whataburger

August 23, 2007

Dear Diary,

Louis drove to Whataburger.  I was shaking the whole time.  The lights of the cars whooshing by struck terror in my heart.  We passed no cops, we weren’t the fastest people on the road, we weren’t swerving across lanes, we obeyed signs and lights.  There was no reason for me to be afraid.

But I saw zombies shambling on the sidewalk, reaching for the cars with bloodied hands.  I saw lights in the sky and couldn’t tell if I was afraid of aliens or government helicopters or planes crashing on top of us.

I clutched his arm as we walked through the parking lot, my head twitching from side to side as if I had palsy.

I couldn’t eat, my throat swollen shut with fear.


Obviously, the medication isn’t working. 


~*~*~*~


Bonsai isn’t the same as a real tree

Mom cut the willow down five years ago
- it was my tree! -
(but, apparently, it interfered with her landscaping project)
I drug the long, slender branches
from behind the house to before
leaving a trail of long, slender leaves
- a wake for my willow