An ocean of shale
couldn’t keep lovers apart—
weeds reach for the sun.

© Nancy Botta, 2019

First time kayak class;
green and yellow maple leaves
wobble on the lake.

© Nancy Botta, 2019

Blue mottled with black,
thick clouds clot above concrete—
right eye swollen shut.

© Nancy Botta, 2019

Junkie ghouls linger
near the Kmart sepulchre—
new necropolis.

© Nancy Botta, 2019

Near the toppled chair
half empty bottles and cans;
coffin flies gather.

© Nancy Botta, 2019

Mosquitoes buzz near
sticky red strawberry hands—
swift sting of sweetness.

©Nancy Botta, 2019

Bulldozed skyscraper—
hard hats and fat grey pigeons
linger in the sun.

© Nancy Botta, 2019