dead, black mouse with descending fly
gate creaks
crispy sidewalk worms
birds’ continual chorus
mailbox droppings
insect call
construction echoes
cat camouflaged against mulch
stilled snake
dense gray clouds
sudden shower
tennis shoe squelch
waterlogged denim
cold drops pelting skin
half-hearted or absent
hellos
discarded pen
abandoned plastic cups
so much green it’s tasted
tiger lilies repeated
barberry bushes
purple-leafed plum aka sand cherry
showy splendor of hot pink roses
Sarah Worrel graduated from the University of Kansas, where she had an amazing job at the KU Writing Center. Her current employment includes the roles of paraeducator and AVID tutor. Comma, Splice published her poem called meadowlark in Florida. Her short stories have appeared in Coal City Review and James Gunn’s Ad Astra.
James Benger is husband and writer. His work has been featured in Coal City Review, Comma,Splice, Hoarding Words, Kansas City Voices, Kiosk, Periphery, Runaway Pony, Thorny Locust and To the Stars Through Difficulties. His ebooks, Flight 776 and Jack of Diamonds are available from most digital retailers. He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife.