new year’s eve-
black ice and wood smoke
near the bus stop
Category: Issue 02
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