The keys to happiness

We heard the jiggle of his keys
at the front door on the days
he got off work early.

"Just wanted to spend some
quality time with my kids,"
he said, patting our heads.

He kissed Mama long on the lips
before swooping us onto his
lap and into his laughter.



Three Word Wednesday: early, jiggle, quality

The open option

Indecision sometimes leads
to a fate we could
never have planned


three word wednesday: indecision, option, fate

Set to boiling

This heat between us
this nasty passion
that pulls us smashing
toward each other
will someday cease
become a simmering love
or a lukewarm memory
of the times we made
one another smile.


Three Word Wednesday: cease, heat, nasty

We lay

We lay in
a jumbled heap
naked and grinning


Three Word Wednesday - grin, jumble, naked

Collection plate

The riches I've collected
in my years life purse
pocket butterfly net
could be whispers
words wordly goods

they persuade the senses
to believe cry love
scream smile live
out loud so everyone
can see hear taste

touch the bitter tears
the sweet honey
laughter the warm
embrace of your gaze
arms soft breath in
my ear

Glee club

Loving her was a breeze.
She had a
laugh that tickled the senses,

the kind of giggle that
crept up the
corners of your own mouth

till your chuckling joined the
choral crescendo and
filled every inch of atmosphere.

It reminded you of warm summer
days running barefoot
through the grass and mellow

afternoons splayed belly up in
a field, just
enjoying the breeze with friends.

Yes, loving her was easy.
And her sunny
smile still keeps you warm.

The Rub

Like a handful of sawdust
abrasive words are
shaved, scattered, and finally lost

The Washboard

Her knuckles were raw.
She'd been stooping over the
basin scrubbing his clothes
for hours.

Her mind was numb,
lost in the abrasive thump thump
thump of blood-soaked cotton on
the washboard.

With a handful of soap and
a tub full of suds, she scrubbed
her soul and washed away
the loss.

TAINTED

His excuse was plausible enough.
That old, rusted Buick had stalled
on the interstate until a Good Samaritan
had stopped and helped him out. 

His kiss was soft enough.
The sweet smell of whiskey hadn't
tainted his tongue and seeped into
his sweat-soaked work shirt.

Her heart was open enough.
She willingly fell into his arms and
into bed, but wondered if that Good Samaritan
had been wearing lipstick.

Three Word Wed -- gesture, immediate, treasure

WELCOME HOME

There's something about the wag of a tail, and
a small treasure in the smile that curls along
the lipline of a furry muzzle.

There's something in those canine gestures that
provokes a Pavlovian response and immediately
curls my own lips into a stupid grin.



*RIP Beaux, my fave canine buddy who was put to sleep this morning*

Three Word Wed -- fragile, rampant, tremor

THE TREMOR

His was a fragile ego,
the kind you tiptoed around
hoping not to squeak a floorboard
and wake the sleeping giant.

Hers was a living tremor,
the kind of rampant quake that
rattles your heart deep in your chest
and never lets you sleep.

Three Word Wed -- engulf, imminent, tamper

TAMPERED TEMPER

He tampered with her
braids as he sat behind
her in kindergarten.

Her temper was swift and
beautiful, a flaming handprint
engulfing his left cheek.

He tampered with her
heart as he played the
field in high school.

Her face flushed as she
landed the imminent blow that
smashed the smirk off his face.

Three Word Wed - charm, feast, robust

MY EMPTY STOMACH

I feasted on your charm,
a robust meal
of delectable deceit and emptiness.

I hung on your arm,
an empty delicacy
for men to feast upon.