sturdy
sensible
sometimes sweet
sometimes silly
so serious
simply super

pockmarks in the ceiling
the caress of the fan
the loud hum of the wall unit
a slight headache

middle aged Latina woman
stands on the sidewalk
her feet are together
her back is straight
her face is pretty and tired
she holds a red cup
3 plastic bags on the ground
they are full of cleaning supplies
she wears a beige men’s shirt
and loose blue jeans
her brown hair is pulled back
a moment of connected clarity

self-indulgent madness
take the hardest route
for the poetic waxing.
please, there is a place
for good common sense

we can’t name the flowers
but we want to
draw them in books
press them in the dictionary
pick them for a vase
admire them
even nameless

the secretary looks down
at the beetle near her shoe
“will he promote me?” she asks
the beetle does not have a voice
she smashes the beetle

pull up the driveway
see pumpkins and smile
stick foot in mouth
shatter a lightbulb
and go to sleep

he liked beef
she liked chicken
how would they ever meet?
on taco night, it’s written