Laura Rodley, a Pushcart Prize winner, has been nominated for the prize seven times and has also received five Best of the Net nominations. Her recent works include Turn Left at Normal (published by Big Table Publishing Company), Counter Point (published by Prolific Press), and Ribbons and Moths: Poems for Children (published by Kelsay Books). With a talent for capturing the essence of life, Rodley’s writing resonates with readers of all ages. Whether exploring the natural world or delving into human emotions, her words evoke a sense of wonder and connection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClY8G6HQwk

The Hoarder Waits

The hoarder waits for her friend
to be finished with her surgery.
There’s nothing here to save but time.

The hoarder holds two pocketbooks, one her own,
the second her friend’s of pliable tan leather, drenched in cigarette smoke,
reminiscent of the old days of smokey dens.

The hoarder tries not to breath in deep, cigarette haze wafting up.
She can’t keep her lungs from expanding;
they breathe without her say-so.