31

Set timer so we
Don't miss the midnight we came
Here to celebrate

30

Being on the fence
See how it'd be better
to go, or to stay

29

Inspired by this house
And its windows on all sides
Gives me future thoughts

28

Man in loafers is

Walk jogging ahead of me

Ducks in Casita

27

If Tang's was open,
not vacant-for-years storefront,
I'd eat a donut.

26

Meter out my hours
To myself and try to keep
Track as time passes

25

I cook the daylight
Then tangle up in papers,
planners with the dark

24

Bring cup of coffee

To the bar for bartender

And he almost cries

23

Late to 10 am
Meeting illustrates my new
Sleep + wake cycle

22

Try too many things
back to back (all social) and
I just want to hurl

21

Driver's from Guate
We talk about my thesis
How ladino's changed

20

Please let me be home
Listening to Bessie Smith
While I wait for friends

19

Work for year wrapped up

So I reconnect with friends

Social engagements

18

Show business is strange
(and not fair) in endless ways
Like rest of the world

17

Solo in hotel
conference room, eyes go red
Overnight ahead

16

Homeless man says, "Next
year will be better!" I say,
"You really think so?"

15

Alex turns around
Drives wrong way so I can see
Red tree on my street

14

Valet remembers
Me because we're both Ortiz
He can't believe it

13

Some days there's no where
Else I'd rather be than work
Where I am working

12

Standing in standing 

on the roof between keeping

us happy, on track

11

Make the inside parts

Of our short film despite the

Camera breaking

10

After playing mom

Glad to get back to the work

I was expecting

9

Can't renew online
But librarian let's me
Check in, then check out

7

At tightly packed bar 

Just enough room for my arms

Look toward exit

6

Asks how I'm doing
Wordless shrug, and she offers
Bite of her sandwich

4

The planned adventure
Went bust but my heart wasn't
In Death Valley yet

3

Walking home after
Some strangers feed my need for
Anonymity

2

Cartoon satellite
Is how she describes my sounds
As I move around

1

He's sitting outside

And when my break starts I'll join

and we'll make more plans.