15. Silence

tick tock tic tock tic
only sound in the whole room
deafening silence

14. Smile

child on the bus
remembers what her mother
said, "smile, baby!"

13. Misfortune

to them, misfortune
is that boy who's left without;
yet he disagrees



(really, misfortune
does not exist: it makes us
strong: it is fortune.)

12. Insanity

my brother says it
yet another time. i scream...
brief insanity

11. Memory

sweet baby smiles
happy this moment, only;
too young for memories

10. Breathe Again

slicing through water
break the surface, into air;
and i breathe again

9. Drive

she looks straight ahead
sweaty hands on the steering
wheel; drive through traffic