December 6

............................................

monks in tuscany
sing praisesongs for nativity
o holy sounds ring

this christmas will be
full and empty missing them
who holy made me

Hope, Albert, parents
beyond praise now, beyond pain
thank you for your love

i told you so
how your leaving would break me
why couldn't you last?

opening the door
cold shoves past, entering
with the roaming cat

the book of carols
won't stay open, too much
for me to play

move the garbage out
light incense, brew clove tea,
winter Saturday

tall milkweed stalks stand
white fluff clings to ruptured pods
wild untidy mess