I don't believe in
fate

but if I did

our lives would
exemplify
its destinies.

meet me at barnes & noble

meet me at barnes & noble
if the world ends

i'll be waiting
somewhere between
poetry
and
romance

cross-legged on the floor
expecting you
every minute

and we will live off of
young adult fiction
starbucks
and words

like we've always wanted to do
anyway

we'll start with the classics
and work our way to more obscure titles
choosing the most appealing covers first

and when we get bored
which we won't

we'll venture to the children's books
and love every moment
until the end

Reasons To Go Home

Because you can run
the entirety of the town
at 9 p.m. on a spring Saturday
and not have to move out of the way
of a single moving vehicle

as if it's all yours.

Copeland

It's crazy about Copeland, huh?

How in that moment
we were undoubtedly together

yet also
remarkably
distant.

Kind of like right now. 

Twenty-Five Reasons Summer Is Going To Be A Time Of Refreshing

• vegetables, herbs, and watermelon
• front yard flowers
• hammocks
• an unending summer reading list
• back yard fires
• morning runs
• color runs
• sister time
• unearthing yard sale treasures
• mom and dad
• home cooking
• garden salsa
• jars and jars of pickles
• taking fresh baked bread to my aunt
• neighbors
• sunshine, sunburns, and sun-tans
• summer small group
• a new set of high schoolers to love
• erin and marybeth's summer road trip extravaganza
• some serious camping 
• being barefoot
• faith bible camp
• all of the concerts
• jefferson bethke 
• Jesus

So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun. -Ecclesiastes 8:15

it's the hashtags

it's the hashtags

the damn hashtags

and the words

no one likes hashtags
and
words

all the people who like the poems hate the hashtags
and all the people who like the hashtags hate the poems

....except us.

yeah.

i get you. 

since feeling

since feeling is first
guard your heart

while Spring is in the world
love with all you've got
recklessly, unrelenting

and kisses
.....and kisses

Don't cry

it's complete surrender

don't regret it,
k?

and I won't

and you won't

and we're shaken

and death i think is no parenthesis

Elevator

Through tear stained eyes
I see him get on
and select floor number six

Please don't talk to me

Please don't talk to me

Please don't talk to me

"Is everything alright?"

He asks, as if he truly cares

And in twelve seconds
I explain my world

"I'm sorry. I hope it gets better."

And I think he actually meant it.

hashtag english three-sixty six

english three-sixty six

has become this semester's salvation

and I do not know how a class can save

but it can

and it is

#divergent #yoloingwithinreason #twitter
#blackoutpoetry #teachermom #silentsustainedreading
 #thosepeoplethough #buttons #silverhair #lucy #wildcard #eng366 

“What you remember saves you.” 
― W.S. Merwin

sexy

when did
sexy 
become an appropriate word
to use to describe a
seventh floor
girls
communal bathroom

and why are all of the lights
off

the way you

the way you 

unashamedly 

play your harmonica

in the midst of an

april snow storm

gives me no choice

but to be a slightly 

better person

Take Chances

If you are going to take chances
take good chances

Like sky diving
zip-lining
water skiing
road tripping

Tell a stranger you love him
and mean it

Pay for one movie
but stay for three

Fall in love
ride a motorcycle
get the tattoo you've always wanted

Travel to a foreign country
and make memories for a lifetime

Move to the city

Move back home

Write ardently
and without apology

Perform your poetry

Take chances

Words

What is your favorite?

My favorite? What is my favorite?
I'm not sure I understand the question.

Just . . . what is your favorite?

- - - - - - - - -

Words.

Words are my favorite. 

Bookshelves

I have four bookshelves

but I only own three 

And I must acquire more 

For I cannot contain all of my stories

on four bookshelves

and sometimes three

Things To Be Happy About VII

• Weather that is above freezing 
• Giraffes
• Honey vanilla chamomile tea
• Concerts that make your top ten list 
• Classy bars
• Peanut butter and banana sandwiches 
• Always having another book to read
• Sunny afternoon runs 
• Meeting goals 
• John Lennon
• Not having an asthma attack 
• Sun burns 
• Aloe Vera plants 
• Planning a road trip
• Digging another garden 
• Jesus sandals 
• Talking theology
• A new toothbrush 
• The book of Ecclesiastes 
• Not having to set your alarm
• New windshield wipers 
• Poetry slams