Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

A slice of bedtime

He is already asleep,
with his thumb gently holding his place
in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

(I’ve been waiting for this,
one of my kids to choose night reading
and bonus points for Harry Potter!)

I turn off his light,
put the book on his nightstand
pull his glasses off

I step over legos,
move a treasure chest and a pair of socks
carve a little path to close the door

It’s quiet before 10:00,
and not much tops that thumb in that book
but I didn’t get to say goodnight

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

My Grandpa’s Unfinished Sailboat

I made the kids stop at the lake before we drove home. I just wanted to see the water.
But then we also saw sailboats.

And the kids positioned themselves on rocks.
So I took a picture, and I looked at the boats

And I thought of my Grandpa’s unfinished sailboat, sitting in his garage.
My Grandpa died in August.
And I thought of my mom and dad, cleaning out my Grandpa’s house.

When we got home, I noticed my mom had listed my Grandpa’s unfinished sailboat.
It’s an ad for a sailboat, but I think it’s poetry.

Mirror Dinghy 2-Person Sailboat
This is a British sailboat kit that my father began making
It is almost finished – just needs sanding and wood finish (or paint)
It has been stored in my Dad’s garage for several years
The seams still look excellent
We have all the pieces –
main boat,
mast,
sail,
rudder,
oars,
oarlocks…
instructions.
$500 

He and mom were planning on doing sailing –
mom took swimming lessons so she could go sailing –
then she got sick