Approaching the Intersection of Fife and 12th

I dreamed I was riding a unicycle
barely staying up
I swished the wheel side to side, twisting my body

It was hard to balance
and match my husband's pace
walking beside me
Plus
we were going up hill

***

I held my daughter's hand
as we walked to her day care the next morning

She called out to the pumpkins on doorsteps
And I saw a man on a unicycle
Cross our path
Effortlessly gliding downhill

The first day back after vacation

She tried to kick me when I said it was time for bed.
But, I threatened to call in the Daddy for backup and she sulked upstairs.

The day care said she threw fits all day and didn't take a nap.
And when I finally sat down and listened to her she said,

"I was laying down in the bed and crying at Kim's house.
I couldn't find you.

And Kathy said, What's wrong?
And I said she's not here.

My mommy's not here."

Peanut Butter in the Toaster

Why'd you have to go explore the toaster
What a way to burn the peanut butter
Stay outta there
Stay outta there

Why'd you go to paint your eyelids
With the black and blue bruises
Stay outta there
Stay outta there

I have no answer to your questions
I can't respond to your fit
Why'd I go
You told me not to.
That's all
that's it.

I close this room to you
Forbidden Kitchen
Forbidden
Do you hear
Stay outta there

39 x 3

Not all of the entries have pictures

But they at least have a name


Most have an age

And many have the way they died


The only woman I can find on the page

Has enviable dark eyes, beautiful curls

She was hit in the back of the head with a bat

I count up how many rows and how many columns

Then Multiply


There are 117 total if the site is up to date


Maybe that's not too many

Maybe we'll look back and say, "Less than 150. And then it was okay."