By ALLISON ADELLE HEDGE COKE

Lifting Visqueen veils spread over little darlings, 
selecting seedlings to set each predawn rise.
We coffeed up, chewed rumors, shared ourselves  
wherever needed without a hint of roundworm 
belly, malathion burn, or pay bounce still to come. 

By ALLISON ADELLE HEDGE COKE

Not the circus of constellations 
rifled with shooting stars  

from nights we slept by the river. 

By ALLISON ADELLE HEDGE COKE

Chrome glinted  
sunrise,      bumpers, rear views. 

Backside of cars parked    full of sleep  
just an hour     past.