Category: Issue 02

new year’s eve- black ice and wood smoke near the bus stop

Anticipated, like breeze for which you are braced, the new years surprise.

Chilly morning Of the new millennium. There’s no snow-fall, yet.

winter sun caught by the branches of the chestnut tree

long night over — the same morning stars in the locust tree

lakeside diner a tipped over picnic table encased in ice

evening commute a dozen crows on the horizon

dead on the Christmas tree a dragonfly

Bristling and prickly with cold the hairs on the arm.

tree farm only the small pines still standing

winter sun a blanket covers the bearded iris

wind in the field measuring their shapes: the dusty gourds

cracked door spilling light shines brightly into stalled space remembering still

winter morning, a finger writes on a frosted window

shoveling snow, and singing a Don Ho song under my breath

camping morning sun over my shoulder as i shave

glancing again at the Maple buds- the falling snow

edge of prairie the crow perched on a wagon wheel

Cold air and half-open door. Cat on the threshold.

Winter morning- at the empty bird feeder a cardinal

lost top of the tall birch in a heavy fog

spring water burble in stone cold sky ~ five hundred sandhill cranes coming

the silence of a winter morning – snowflakes

Waiting for the train alone on the platform swatting mosquitoes

dusk — the light goes out with the tide

Iron frozen pond. Random stone’s ricochet ring. The settling silence.

February tides– a trawling boat stranded on the mudflats

for company the distant cry of a crow

6.00 am: sun plays peek-a-boo at baby’s window

insomnia… the traffic signal changes for nobody

bareroot rose bundles on sale at the discount store already sprouting

a spider’s thread between the eave and door — morning sunlight

year of the horse — her head tossing the ripples of her perm

cold sheets . . . beyond the darkness a train whistle

rain for days, daytime so grey – the dark stippled with light

fading evening light- thud of a basketball on the board

snow storm — the spray covering the jetty

quiet sunday morning winter’s daylight growing behind the curtains

through bare branches a withering wind howls — empty railway platform

an automobile idling in the parking lot – take-out trash

birdbath — a sparrow pecks at the frozen sun

fading evening light- small glow of a lamp up in the mountain

her damp hair turns golden by the fire — winter rain

wild geese in a hollow gray sky no letter again

March thaw– on a sofa left for trash sits melting snow

rowing through out of the mist the wide sea

the stubble field where the snow is gone : dark puddles

rain on the window pane — the evergreens drip

leaning against a lamppost a young girl wrapped in a blanket

spring fog weathered snow fence sagging in a field

a year later– in mother’s bare garden new grass

quiet morning fog chickadee calls for a mate

spring in the square– a child’s orange tricycle scattering pigeons

in the pink! a sparrow flies out of an azalea

What luck! The southern valley Makes snow fragrant.

muddy ground I let the grass grow one more day

starlight blinks ephemeral distant suns

these spring mornings– even on cloudy days the birds are singing!

gray rain in the park custodian’s truck trays of pink geraniums

Monday morning the city’s secrets hidden in fog

April wind – The swagger of the last daffodil

cracked blacktop maple seedling sprouting

holding our daughter up to her first plum blossoms — petals in her hand

rainy playground– a patch of new grass hides the softball

a cold breeze I ignore the new weeds for another day

at the yard an unexpected visitor — hydrangea in bloom.

one A.M. a neighbor’s basement window the only light

After the party empty chairs in the lawn: new moon and I

methane breeze rising from the dump wild blue bells

March winds– a butterfly and I struggle on.

Pink and white clouds Crowd the horizon Orchards in bloom

row of cherry trees each one letting go of a few blossoms

south of the river . . . all of these pear trees in bloom

night driving – through branches of barren woods twinkling of the stars

sudden downpour bee takes shelter in a blossom

Wedding gown billows Flowering crab-apple tree Throws pink confetti

on the silvery water beneath the swan– a swan

these old lilacs adding thir aroma to the discussion

still awake at two o’clock a.m. — spring warblers

May morning tang of wet spruce forest riding the wind

Jacaranda blooms A lavender canopy over the asphalt

a store alarm ringing and ringing– May rain

cardinal displays his new red feathers : cloudy sky

The shock of color – Flowers in the parking lot As tall as children.

jacaranda blooms carpeting May city streets purple confetti

tower- the spread of hawk’s wings in the sun

journey of a millipede- whiteness of the wall around it

seabird hunts over hammered silver waves splash! another dent

evening breeze . . . water laps the legs of the blue heron

water strider on a trembling moon- distant voices

Mountain crest etched against a sky so blue so blue

another spring– beyond the razor wire cherry blossom

old cemetery — the blank headstones of unknown soldiers

Spring departs. Birds cry Fishes’ eyes are filled with tears.

sunshine in the place where he warmed himself — the old cat

summer birds the rise of our baby’s chest against mine

summer afternoon- a sea breeze finds its way through the heat

Oh, don’t swat! the fly rubs hands, rubs feet

Mosquitoes, leave me! I have no more blood to take- you’ve drained it all!

in the weeds one hundred and one striped caterpillars

the fly flies in all directions evening light

The same orbit – butterflies during the day and bats at night

Sunday a high perched squirrel preaches against trespassing

A crow picks at cow’s back in the afternoon– drooping rag-picker

Carried by the wind a gnat has flown into a swallow’s bill.

this nightingale with its voice touches the moon’s sickle

lovemaking after midnight sirens in the distance

raised voices a summer moon in the estuary

outdoor bench tree’s shadow sits lightly

Manicured lawn two old ladies in slippers

watering … ants with white eggs climb higher

Short summer night. A dewdrop On the back of a hairy caterpillar.

traffic jam a driver fingers the breeze through the sunroof

A moth struggling for life on wire

blue heron standing at attention in the shadows

a longtailed jaeger two brown eggs nested atop the hummock

hidden birds: from east to west thunder is rolling

clear moonlight drawing a ring around the pond – deep silence

an attic window sill a wasp curls into its own dust

soil ready for tilling a distant red barn edges the landscape