Broken telephone

 They don't teach you 

what to say 

to the person on

the other end of the line

calling at 3 a.m. 

with words she 

would rather not utter

and you 

would rather not listen.

Or what to do with the 

3 a.m. silence

after you hang up,

how to fill the hours

left before the sunrise,

to leave or not to leave bed,

to brew or not to brew

some coffee,

how to play on.

I started counting ambulances

because when you live near a hospital,
the sirens muffle all the birdsongs.
I want to believe at least one of them
carries a woman in labor,
bringing a new hope into the world,
even though most women I know
took a bus or a cab to the nearest hospital
to have their babies, some of them even drove.

NaPoWriMo Day 14

Things that make you feel nostalgic

(after Sei Shōnagon)

Swings. Following paper boats on streams.
Chasing crickets. Playing hide-and-seek.
Drawing watches on your wrist with a pen.
Pulling off ladybugs’ wings so they stay.
Halley’s comet. Pineapple coconut cake.
Time spent with grandparents. Writing letters.

NaPoWrimo Day 13 poem, for a prompt share by Amy Kay

Instructions on how to forget

Lie in the backyard
late afternoon on
a sunny spring day
and watch the clouds go.

Napowrimo day 12 poem, for a prompt share by Amy Kay

Toys on the planet Earth

(After Naomi Shihab Nye)

When it is safe again to
leave the house, I want to hear
the names of all your paper dolls
and see your bedroom
in the new address.
We will make up silly songs,
dance around the house,
reread favorite books and
make new imaginary friends.
We will sit in the yard and
drink pretend tea, dig a little,
dream a lot - will you
teach me your secret recipe
for mud cake then?

NaPoWriMo day 11