Poetry, Prose, and Short Stories

My Poetry

Midwest Night from an Amtrak Roomette

Spotlit ground stretches under cement sky.
I don't have my glasses on; shapes emerge
Regular and distinct, hopper-bottom and flat.
This bin is three-headed. Still, but not silent.
Grain hisses down parallel pipes
From the central platform. Inside,
Fans hum like sleeping dogs.
Moving trucks glide an inch off the ground
Glowing warning red. The security lights blink white
So birds don't fly close. We don't either.

On Being Safe

There are a thousand doors
Between us and them,
Between us and then.
Home's key has a sun printed on it,
The hotel's is a square black fob.
Each door hangs firm on its hinges,
Closed. No, thank you.
In your home there is your cat,
You and me,
The din of machines
Going about their work.
There is no crying.
No calls in the night
Nothing in the next room.

My Prose

My Short Stories