Stick Figures

by Julie Schwerin and Michael Dylan Welch


First published in Frogpond 44:2, Spring/Summer 2021, page 81. Originally written mostly in April of 2020.



winter morning

thirty-six Play-Doh

snowmen Julie


home isolation

I tell the kids I’m bored Michael


finding my flashlight app

a tunnel between

their blanket fort and mine Julie


record cold—

the bulb burns out

in the Easy-Bake Oven Michael


binging all six seasons

of Master Chef Junior Julie


spring evening—

the fridge magnet holds

our stick-figure family Michael