Table of Contents

reintroduction 1

for the quiet kids who’ve been told “Speak Up” 2

excerpts of voicemails from lovers or exes 3

you thought i wasn’t looking at you 4

this, this 6

haibun, the meadow 7

crush 8

epithalamium 10

when he tells you he loves you 11

for the poets who gather here 12

sentinels 13

an exercise in writing and editing drunk 14

a snapshot of my brother 15

looking at my mother in four rooms 16

a portrait of my favorite color 18

thalassa 19

old town 21

she eats 22

alden b dow drafts a letter to frank lloyd wright about his garden 23

mom friend speaks 25

bring the bass back 27

brash 28

i know i will never be an hourglass 29

20 things I know to be true 30

why i did it 31

to that someone within me i have no name for 33

someday i’ll love grace carras 35