A talisman for pinches,
we wore shades of emerald,
forest, grass and lime
as badges of a country
we imagined stuffed with leprechauns.

Barbie doll in hand, 
they push her sobbing
into the front seat.

4 months away from those 2 weeks
sheet wrapped together, I prearrange
seating arrangements in my head
until you are stuck across the room.

Bill felt he was born for this. Eating lunch as he watched numbers scroll a board, sift through e-mails, organize filing cabinets. Each day itemized by activity. Carefully scheduled and planned. On Fridays, he’d wear his dress down tie and have obligatory post work drinks.

I dreamed of you: a pea under my pillow,
shoots curling round stubby fingers,
summer lake cottages with star blankets.

You plug ears with cotton
nod in time to lip movements
and promise moonbeams to the sun.

Your kind trade player card lives
with mates in white suits
saying yes over and over

when you really mean no.

Beside me, you dig your fingers
into the top of my hand
the skin edging white
a spreading pressure stain