2nd Place

Tangiers in Early Spring

Steam from the burnt coffees stings my eyes.
The cream churns and rolls inside her cup,
a little storm of microscopic proportions when
she stirs in her sugar and spills a bit
on the chipped white counter under
the Hot Corned Beef sign
vibrating above our heads. She pulls
the beaded string and suddenly there
is no more hot corned beef. People
will surely be disappointed by that.
The two Dylan tickets I placed in the wrapping
of the flowers just sit there.

Red and Strapless.

I caressed my leg as I stood gazing at my sister’s red strapless dress. I had only but a minute to admire its sleek design hanging there in the closet. I stood there, entertaining the thought of me trying it on.

Oh what a marvelous figure, it would give me, I thought.

The Ford Rouge Plant
Stands only a half mile
Away from my house
Towering above
The neighborhood
Like a Taskmaster
Watching
While we played
Basketball
At Lapeer Park
We, the Future
Assembly line
Workers
Who work on Christmas
And relish overtime
Who know little
About company policy
And Benefits
We, who appreciate
The opportunity to
Work for the opportunistic
After all, it is
Why our fathers
Came, and our grandfathers
Before them