Cheri Amey

Chewing Ice

is bad for your enamel
they call it pica behavior
eating ice or eating dirt maybe
it's a sign of anemia
a low oxygen slow
level of energy &
poor concentration feeling
out of breath
every time I
climb the stairs or
work out on
the treadmill so
I always
chew
ice
I like the small cubes
from
Taco Bell or
McDonald's fill
the cup up &
add a little Coke or Pepsi
had a blood test
this month the
doctor said "severe anemia, maybe
cancer" I
don't think so it isn't
possible do you believe this
could be
happening
to me?

Thirteen

A small house in a flat land subdivision
my sisters and I in one room
bunkbeds, yellow curtains no
carpet on the floor
wild girls
running outside
sweat, oak trees and
hands cupped to whistle
kissed the boy next door
who made me feel grown
up and thirsty
closed mouth kisses but
good
lazy summer days
walking watermelons home
on hot pavement
lying down with the boy
at the edge of the river.

Cheri Amey writes: Currently have a poem appearing in Kudzu (a digital quarterly) and Morpo Review. Work and live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California. Enjoy binding books of poetry and photographs to share with friends. Love the rhythm of poetry, the sound of words, the song.