Autumn

He stood there, breathing into his hands in the futile attempt to bring a shard of warmth to his cold hands. The brisk air nipped at all his extremities, making it even more unpleasant.

He repeated the action two more times and watched the warmth that he could not catch dance into the atmosphere.

Springtime

She smiles at me.
Her smile is genuine.
Not the fake plastic smiles posed for pictures, but the honest, down to earth smile.

I feel my heart flutter.

I smile back.
A genuine deep-down-from-my-core smile.

I feel her heart flutter. Spring must be in the air.

Insomnia

It sounded so simple.
Lay down.
Close eyes.
Sleep.

It almost seems like dying.

Regression (A social commentary)

We took many steps forward.
Watched as great children turned into great men and women.

One day we tripped -- a collective trip, all of us.
That fall had greater repercussions than we could expect.

All that progress, all that enlightenment,
null.

What is now left on the surface:
our ignorance,
our insecurities,
our prejudices.

Can't we just take one step forward?

Donation

My heart bleeds for you but I can only give so much blood.

Inconsequential

I slapped the top of the pond and watched the rippling waves.

I almost cried.
I knew in my heart, no matter how much of
a fuss,
a ruckus,
a fit
or
a scene I made --

my true feelings would never be able to ride these ripples
and reach your guarded shore.

Innocence

She held my hand tight.
It was her first time;
I felt her anticipation.

Suddenly a small bolt shot into the sky.

Pop.

A flourish of color.

Pop.

Another flourish. She grasped my hand tighter.
I looked down and smiled, taking in the pure joy and jubilee on her face.

"Happy 4th of July sweetheart."