We Imagine Ourselves Soldiers

Destroyers of bridges we lean

too much to the water

wishing for riptides

knowing we have

no life jackets.

I Watched from My Desk

I initiated this

conversation;

can you see them

in your aging faces,

where is the ghost

of your parents?

I sat and listened

as two women

slowly derailed into

stories of college-ja vu

and the sag of necks.

I will never understand

the moments of

my stance is like hers

my jaw droops like his.

They are forever in time 

smooth of skin, they

who aren't them at all

the ghost of my face

but the ghosts of them.

Stricken

There have been balloons

released by mistake

sparkling glints shrinking

and pulling down as well

the excitement

the ready smiles

heavy to be so light

but there have also been

piñatas

full to the brim with promise

only yielding sweet

when shattered on impact