by Alison

.

.

.

morning:

I play dolls with kid

throw the Kong ball to puppy

and play dolls some more

.

later:

instead of rushing

to the store we meet up with

a caterpillar

.

afternoon:

I scream in the car

a tick on my tummy while

driving to Walmart

.

dinnertime:

8:57

kid’s still eating mac and cheese

puppy looks for crumbs

.

bedtime:

husband sick in bed

nursing a cup of miso

daughter rubs her eyes

.

night time:

pup goes out for one

last poop I close my eyes and

listen to crickets

by Alison

we argue about

the division of labor -

anthills fill the cracks

by Alison

in his heart he wants

to take care of everyone -

the computer hums

by Alison

sea mist on our skin

and still he talks on about

his next invention

by Kelly

trampled peonies –

he’s not who he thought he’d be

approaching 40

by Alison

“Nobody’s building

so my husband can’t find work”,

she tells me, nerves raw

by Alison

I’m feeling spread thin

there’s this to do and then that -

I need a vacay

by Alison

the arborist steps

into the thick forest while

I stand back and watch

by Kelly

W2s and

1099s — I’d rather

be doing laundry

by Kelly

endless phone calls but

out my window chickadees

jockey for prime seeds