Joy Hallinan

The Key

After Mom died, and the house was packed, I found my childhood diary. A small red book with FIVE-YEAR in gold script and a broken lock. Only a few pages with scrawled entries. Property of Joy Kurts. Private!! September 20 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 15 years old!! Got a poster, roses, clothes, $20, and this diary! WOW Joy+Billy November 14 what a bummer! Started my period one day before BIG first date with DK. Oh well. November 15 First French Kiss!! Went to Roy Rogers in his white Toyota station wagon and shared fries. Went to see movie “Wind and the Lion.” Enjoyed date. Got a red rose. Lots of fun. November 16 Feel fantastic! Talked to T who was blue cuz Dave doesn’t like her. Forgot to tell her Mike likes me! November 17 Fell in love with Joe! DK doesn’t like me now. I’m mad. Joy+Joe 

Joy+DK  Joy+Mike  Joy+Dave  Joy+Jim

After my divorce, I was in therapy for a year trying to understand why my marriage foundered.

her fairy tales
patched with tape
rose red

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About the Author

Joy Hallinan is a member of The Haiku Society of America and cofounder of The Atlanta Haiku Group. Her haiku and haibun has recently appeared or is forthcoming in Acorn, hedgerow, Haiku Girl Summer, Frogpond, and Modern Haiku.

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