New Year dinner,
in my soup bowl
her silver hair
Category: Issue 07
full moon —
the hush of fallen snow
over the city
moonshadows
a rabbit emerges
from the snowman’s top hat
light january snow —
a cardinal moves up
the branch
couple in the pub
they both strip off
the beer labels
winter evening–
the old women
disagree on everything
early thaw
her hand brushes mine
under the quilt
folded in the corner
of the linen cupboard –
a moth
twilight
I direct a stranger
to the wrong train
this cold night
nothing moves
but stars
breaking wave
winter sunlight curls
into itself
so pristine white
the field of snow — I lower
the shotgun
below zero
the chimney smoke too
rises slowly
winter morning –
our words turn into
white clouds
red coals . . .
she persuades me
to stay in bed
swirling snow…
the crunch
of cornflakes
winter reverie
the faint scent of bubblegum
on an old baseball card
Indian bedspread Caribbean rum
midnightcoloursrun
patches of snow
completely covered over
by the blizzard
waist-high snowdrifts…
in my alphabet soup
s p r i n g
a visit
two feathers left
on the sill
snow brighter than the day moon between the caribou
long night moon —
shadow craters
of old snow
frozen moon–
a third glass of red wine
before bed
old priest’s rectory:
the pine tree green
even in snow
the boy’s thumb
in his mouth–
the carpenters grin
winter moonset;
on the edge of the forest
a ghost-owl glides
snow moon
the hunter’s
empty trap
Sunday morning
the gospel
according to birds
five up, two over
somebody stares out
that window
fogged window
inside your hand print
the shadow of mine
winter lake –
only my eyes
disturb the view
winter solitude–
only a sparrow
to share my meal
Feast of the New Year —
cactus wren
darting for snowflakes!
red window candles this house has eyes
cemetery storm
the man complains
about a cold sore
first snowflakes –
a Mozart concerto
on the car radio
a chalk outline
on the sidewalk
her last silueta
holiday postcard…
a foot of snow
on the sundial
in the depression
of a sunken tombstone
unmelted snow
low winter sun –
the melting snowman
still smiling
sunrise…
the glint of light
on the coat hanger
candlelit church
all the shadows
mine
storm moon
in the rubble
Grandmother’s Bible
winter funeral ~
a stray dog
joins the crowd
thunder–
the new lambs press against
their mothers’ bellies
the silent wind chime–
my nephew blows soap bubbles
over and over
kitchen floor
the nightlight reddens
the mouse’s ears
first star–
a seashell held
to my baby’s ear
accumulating snow–
oven mitts
praying on the counter
toll booth lit for Christmas–
from my hand to hers
warm change
steady breathing . . .
a kiss on her cheek
ends the story of Christmas
with a broken snowball
she mends
the snowman’s cheek
daybreak-
the stars abandon
the moon
reading in bed
my pulse flickering
the lightly held bookmark
a patch of blue
on the scarecrow’s shadow…
first crocus
green hills
the highway cutting through
more green hills
frosty morning–
the foal watches its mother
nudge my pocket
wilderness trash heap
all around the broken clock
wild lilies
marsh lightning
the tree’s blossoms open
into egrets
spring pond
a raindrop passes through
its own reflection
moonless night –
here and there
cats’ eyes
saree shop
in a boarded-up lane…
tulips after rain
dry shadow
under the parked white car —
spring downpour
sun at last . . .
the snow recedes
in daffodils
thunderstorm
a young couple argue
under an umbrella
spring rain
the crumpled obituary
by my bed
turning 20…
she attempts to laugh
more elegantly
birthday —
the backwards struggle
of the butterfly
bedtime . . .
the bathtub fills
with moonlight
bright spring day —
a cigarette break
for the dustman
lunar eclipse–
the couple kisses
under the street light
sunny again . . .
black cows in deep snow
by the gate
park bench
the stranger beside me
inches closer
open gate
a girl climbs the playground fence
anyway
dawn . . .
the cry of a whipbird
cuts through the mist
river sunlight
the smell of tugboats
and blossoms
windy sky
the kite flies higher
than its string
spring breeze–
I catch the tune
she leaves behind
mud puddle–
the little boy’s
bare feet
park bench…
her hand resting on his
white cane
midday sun
two lizards scamper
up the church wall
tourists talking
in several languages–
the glassblower exhales
sun shower
washing away
chalk hearts
mud flats
the blue sky shimmers
under my feet
cherry blossoms
the tug tug tug
of baby’s hand
amish friendship bread
hint of cinnamon
in her kiss
a dead end —
the butterfly
flutters on
lake reflection. . . .
the hint of cherry blossom
with my wine
moonlit floor
the scent of sumac wafts
through the shadows
free samples inside–
a homeless man
fills his pockets
overcast sky
rain drizzling down on
the pink plum blossoms
resetting the mousetrap,
after she goes out to play
spring breeze–
the pull of her hand
as we near the pet store
tossed stone
the pond’s sound skips
through the trees
gas drilling rig
rasp of frogs
near the porta-potty
a breeze
through the lilacs
last night’s rain
soft breeze–
a glimpse
of her thigh
Earthrise
the gold visor reflects
Orion
wind chimes
a leaf and a butterfly
rise together
morning sun
shadow of the weather cock
under my feet
over the boat
moored between the reeds
the crickets sing
hot afternoon
the sweet weight
of peonies
even the edge
of an evening cloud,
smoldering
wetland shore
the maple ripples
with the sky
silent casino
the ashtray full
of green olives
cricket’s song
the smell of magnolias
in the night sky
iris season
each plant has its own
shade of purple
spring walk –
my son tries to reach
the sky with a stick
Melted snow…
an outstretched leaf
becomes a fountain
moving day –
the old splatter
on the kitchen walls
morning rush…
the warbler leaves us
a fragment of its song
in the wake of
a butterfly,
the wind picks up
darkening clouds–
on the roller coaster rail
a dove
next table
at the coffee shop…
free advice
summer downpour
ducks take a swim
on my pool cover
park bench
the blind man’s glasses
reflect the sunlight
posing –
a single drop of sweat
down my spine
summer twilight:
licking the line between
chocolate and vanilla
summer springs —
i try to scoop water
with a straw hat