cranberry filled photoalbums
by t. zoEy benally

when he opens his eyes
she is his first thought
they share coffee, stir in sugar & cream ideas

he listens for her voice, low murmur
hot waxy bees
sticky with sleep, sing sweet honey

they watch movies
share popcorn paper bags
sprinkled with salt, hold the butter

later alone they re-watch
DVDs, and they are together
again, hands brush at the popcorn well

she sleeps, he listens & enjoys
the even rhythm of her breath
refrigerator cycles on, cools cartons of milk

he watches lint glide down warm sunbeams
picks up the paper
scans black letter march across the thin rough page