My mother says we ought to eat A balanced diet, with whole wheat,   And don’t forget the chewy things: Asparagus and squash with strings,   Or salmon for Omega Threes, Or peaches, pears, and spinach leaves—   She always makes me clear my plate; We even eat the stuff we hate.   Then out of nowhere come the pies— She spoons whipped

Towering waves roar at Those who’ve come to tame them, Never surrendering to men attempting To stand. Boards break, bones crack— No one can hinder the tide. The water laughs at failures So great. Its tears glisten in the sun, Rolling back to crash again into the rocks— No one can challenge me.

Don’t ask me to love you quietly— I never learned how. I can only love you loudly: In fireworks and ardent declarations, In shouting “I adore you” in public places. My love is not soft: not gently Offering an embrace, making your coffee just so, Or memorizing your favorite movies. It’s the tight, slightly suffocating grip of protective

Variation on a theme by Benjamin Myers The congregants file in long lines of two, Ants carrying their burdens forward, Setting them down to rest on holy ground. Let this mother, forehead folds creased flat For her prodigal son, receive the elements. Let this grandfather of no one, staggering From the weight of heavy drink and loneliness, Receive the elements.

My life is like walking, tip-toeing a tightrope up high in the darkness where the stage lights don’t shine.   My life is like running, scurrying around the ring from one act to the next, but it’s never a full show unless I stumble.   My life is like juggling, keeping up tasks of utmost gravity. But after a while,

The stories of my mind are like Growing darkness, bursting light, Flitting shadows, rumored wars, Soaring clouds, and plunging stars.   Battle raging in my mind, What will I do with you? You take up energy and time; I don’t know what to do!   Powerful warlords and dragons fierce; Delicate dryads a breeze could pierce; A kingdom of merfolk beneath

Frigid air whipping my face and knees bending as close to each other as they could, I murmured prayers to myself the entire ride down. Entire cliff faces surrounded me, and I was painfully aware of more experienced people whizzing by me, only a half foot away. Ice accrued on my glasses as the tears on my face began solidifying.

Tightrope artist isn’t one of my top one hundred career choices. While every job demands high accuracy, the tightrope demands perfection. An inch off isn’t “close enough.” I wouldn’t last five seconds as a tightrope artist. My frantically thumping heart would destabilize my entire body. My arms would flail wildly as I tried to steady myself. Then

On the last night of my Speedy’s Auto Repair and Oil Change career, the cash drawer came up $100 short. I counted it at least four times, but it wasn’t adding up, and this wasn’t a small amount that I could easily have just miscounted. I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck and looked

The ice shattered in splinters, the darkness beneath lining each edge. The boy lifted his hatchet to break more of the iced-over layer, squeezing his eyes shut before landing the blow. For this swing would not be forgiven. Even were he intending the water for himself, he could not claim it on his own authority. But to give it to

Detective Josiah Lapso scribbled down a quick note and straightened to post it on the glass board. He crossed his arms and stared at the diagram that he had spent the last three weeks putting together. Notes with times and dates were plastered in a seemingly chaotic manner with strings of red yarn taped between them. Photographs of crime scenes

Spectators wish I would stay forever Steadfast, because I've always been Here doing what I'm told. Not just to be Prodded, but Lauded: Like a derby, Circling for the gold, I reach for the goal, for the win, To accomplish this, my greatest endeavor.