April Dressel

April Dressel studied English at Indiana University and after brief time owning her own vintage clothing store in
Chicago, she went back to school. April has recently obtained her Masters in Education from DePaul University
and is now teaching English at the high school level in Chicago Public Schools. Her interest in writing poetry
and taking writing classes has been ever-present, but her ambition to publish has been a more recent
objective in her life.

Hold 'em


Side bent nose
and extra long forearms,
toes calloused from tae kwon do,

he settles into my heart
like someone settles into a home.
He unpacks his thoughts and sets
them on my kitchen table,
bubble-wrapped affection.

Don't sweat the big stuff,
it's the little stuff that matters.
Bits of life embellished and given
daily, makes love happen.

Texas Hold 'em, pixie sticks
and Aqua Teen Hungerforce.

He could spend all his time on videogames,
but he'd rather be with me.