June 12, 2009
Dear Journal,
I made two new friends at the park this afternoon. They were a brother and sister named Josh and Kelly. Josh is 16 and Kelly is 14. They're homeschooled. I figured out that they live three houses down from mom and me so they invited me to hang out at their house tomorrow afternoon for a couple of hours. They have a big pool so we'll probably swim. And Josh said he'd teach me how to skateboard. He's pretty cool.
Kennedy

Summer
Wading through waist deep foxtails (swept
by the brooms
of the wind) she
could smell their gold on siroccos
wafting up in mirage creating waves.

Not a cloud
in the sky, or a
bird
in the air
but that one lone black old vulture
his wingspan a man's height across.

Art Exhibit
fallen blue leaves
translucent glass
scattered on a table
illuminated

rest breathlessly
upon white cloth
still, cold
as glass

I’m having this weird feeling right now. It’s the same feeling I get at the beginning of every summer. Granted, it’s not quite summer yet. The feeling’s come a little early this year. It’s the realization that, no matter how much dirt and crap and homework has gotten thrown at you, you are gonna have some fun soon. No matter completely horrible life has been, there will at least be some brief respite from the torture chamber.

(A writing exercise that had to use all the words in the title)
“Teacher, are you there?” Isabel whispered, tapping the rough tree trunk.
An eye blinked open and swiveled down at her. “Is it summer already?”
Isabel grinned and nodded. “It makes you thirsty. You really want a drink.”
The knothole of wood that was her teacher’s mouth shifted up at the corners. “My roots are deep enough for that. You just want me to make it rain.”

Such a smile like the sun.
Blinding the heart
For love is blind
And I love you.

Such beauty as the stars
Sparkling on the ground
For they fell out of the sky
As I fell for you.

Such eyes like a river
Swiftly moving and never
Returning what they have taken;
You took my heart with you.

Such distance like a wall
For we are forever apart.
Though you're within my grasp
I cannot touch you.
 

waiting for the rain
in the west, the clouds had been darkening
all day, even sitting on the bank--
when the air feels like this,
you just know it will rain soon--
but the sun made me sleepy
like Alice
before she dreamt of wonderland.

My sisters in the garden;
her fine hair spreading wider, she
opens up her face to me

Shy little thing.

My brothers in the fields,
their bodies stretching higher,
reaching reaching touch the sun

So quick to claim the hour.

Such recluse backdropped by evening's fields
all spiky white in bloom
for fear of treading bees, wander with care;
not one for wearing shoes.

Such mind enclosed, and wreathed in sun
its glow revealing dust
more threadbare each year do we find the couch,
yet find such things, we must.

My dear, in secrecy of thought
so silently, I should--
yet I cannot disrupt the quiet hum
or a weeping dove, disturb.

A vase of amber glass reflected
so kneel, and hemmed inside