lightning bug dreams in my hand 

hope in city skies

Dear Mama and Daddy,

If you were here right now, I would have so much to tell you. I live with a nice lady named Mrs. Edna, but you guys are way nicer than her. Mama, I remember how you would always smell like nice talcum powder. Whenever I feel sad and the tears come, I go to the story and ask the the lady to smell the talcum powder. It would have been nice if we had more time together, but I know that you are still here. I miss you guys and I will make another letter for you soon.

Sincerely,

Lonnie ( Or Locomotion)

Dear Mom,

It would have been nice if you stayed a bit longer, but I can’t do anything about that. I realize how much I could time we could have spent together, but I know you’re there. Thank you for everything you have given me, tell Dad that too. I miss you. I miss that lemon-y scent. I miss you by my side.

  Love,

Locomotion

Dear,

   Mom and Dad

  I miss you so much and Ms. Edna is taking real good care of me. I still remember when you and mom would get up and dance to the locomotion. Then mom would say “Come on Lonnie do the locomotion!” Then we would all move our arms like trains. After me and Lili would sit on the couch laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. I miss doing that with you.

   Love,

  Locomotion  

   By: Zeshan Ali

Dear,

   Mom and Dad

  I miss you so much and Ms. Edna is taking real good care of me. I still remember when you and mom would get up and dance to the locomotion. Then mom would say “Come on Lonnie do the locomotion!” Then we would all move our arms like trains. After me and Lili would sit on the couch laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. I miss doing that with you.

   Love,

  Locomotion  

   By: Zeshan Ali

Dear Mama
and Dad

  I have never felt so alone. I wish you
were here to guide me. Ms. Edna is taking good care of me. I wish I could talk
to you. I spoke to Lili today. Thanks to her, I believe in God. Now I believe
we’ll all be together again.

  Love,

  Lonnie

Dear Mama,

I miss all of your hugs and how you would sing us to sleep at night. Remember when you would take us to the drug store and buy your Honeysuckle talc powder? I do. I’m really sorry for not listening to you when you said don’t play with your fancy, expensive china. Ms. Edna’s treating me real nice here. She has two sons so she knows how to treat me right. Lili’s changed too, her new mama doesn’t like ma, so I don’t get to visit as often I want to and even when I do, I only can stay for one hour. Lili is so beautiful. When I saw her last, she was wearing a floral pink dress and had pink ribbon in her hair. Please come back, we need you. It’s strange walking down President Street and seeing our house charred and dead, covered in ash. I get sick on December 9^th because all I can think of is you and papa and Lili and all of the things we used to do as a family. I need you to come back, please.

With much love,

Lonnie Collins Motion

Dear Mama,

  I miss you more than anything. Lili and I both miss you more than anything. I feel empty here without you, like a cup from which all the water was poured out of. I remember when you used to come Lili’s hair, when you would give me the brush to comb through with while you went and got rubber bands. If you were here right now, I would be the happiest kid in the world, but since you’re not, all I feel is abandonment and grief. Say hi to Daddy for me, will you? I love you Mama, and I always will.

  Yours truly, Lonnie Collins Motion

    “Locomotion”

Dear mom and dad,

  Hi. I really miss you guys. I wish you could be with me now. Mom, I remember when you called me while you were at work and asked if I was behaving and if the doors were locked. I remember when you called me sugar. I loved it when you called me that. Dad, I remember when you called me locomotion and when I saw you climbing out of a manhole. The hardest part of your death is that I miss everything I did with both of you. If you were here right now, I would hug you like a teddy bear because I want you to come back. Thank you for all the happy moments I had with you.

  Love,

  Lonnie

parents and how the

fire took them once

Dear Mom and Dad,

  Thank you for taking care of Lili and I so well. I just wish you can stay with us longer. I can still remember the smell of the honeysuckle talc powder that you wore and when we would dance to the Locomotion. Lily is really pretty and growing up and I wish you can see that happen. I will always have you in my heart.

  Love,

  Lonnie

It is December the ninth

so long Mom and Dad

I sit down with Lili and God

Chewing my cookie.

Sway your hips to the music

My kids got some rythm

my life is forever changed i feel so alone

Sky roaches everywhere

But are beautiful

dog, you want to hoop / a pocket full of money / two college degrees

Dear Mom and Dad,

I remember how you smelled like honey suckle powder. It had
a strong sweet smell I liked. The hardest part about your death for me is the
memories that flash back about you. The thoughts that your gone eats at me .It
would be nice if I could spend one more day with you and tell you how much I’m
going to miss you .I'm really sorry for you leaving. My best time with you was
when we used to listen to locomotion. We would do the locomotion and fall down
laughing breathless. If you were here right now I’d tell you about Lili growing
up so pretty and nice. ID also tell you about my life at my new house. Thank
you for being great parents that would do anything for me,

Love Lonnie

at the camera but me 

cause' something's just wrong

jumble your ideas because 

every line should count

stone houses Lili's new sweet home

nice smells in the air

Dear Mom and Dad

I miss you both and it has been hard without you. Lilli has a new mama and I am with Ms. Edna. Ms. Edna is both mean and nice. She always tells me to be quiet. I sometimes go to see Lilli. I think she is happy and that is the only thing that matters. Well that is all I know from Lilli for now. See you both later.

   Love Locomotion

a dollar seventy-five in my

left pocket clanking

we all smiling but not me  

i see something bad

not straw-head cotton-picker

dirt eater bumpkin just Clyde

Lili is near the clear window

I knock on Lili's door