warm after too cold
fallen leaves waiting like me
to be collected

from May

open the window
perfume enters on wet breeze
changing light and space





sounds soften in rain
grey afternoon quiets sighs
no mow motors roar

he watered at noon
this one mows at dusk. Both kill
undoing stillness

For rent forbodes ill
madness, drugs, filth. fights came, left
we like it empty

Come weeds, break open
You are food, tools for paper
I know your secrets

In cold sleepless dark
I shiver under blankets
he comes, curls, settles

too early the phone rings
no message is left. sweet dreams
of walking undone

undriven car waits
blue tarp blown down. Light on dust
paw prints on

banging me awake
they fix what’s broken, cover
woodpeckers’ wood haunt

she cut five tulips
candy striped, not quite open
a big bee followed

I told her the wood
on that house had birds and bees
ahh! big bore wood bees

cold, grey May
lit by apple blossoms
snowing on mowed grass

cat’s silent urging
too insistent to ignore
open the door

dog shit in the yard
mower man said. cat stays close.
pit bull barks next door

purple evening
no mowers no birds
cat snores somewhere near

who sings at 3 a.m.
more song fills darkness
than when I wake

they argue in short bursts
sharp twitters repeat refrains
listen to me now

cell phone alarm rings
time to get up, get up cat
curled in warm circle

he mowed later
only killing one flower
more careful this time

two hats in bed
two shirts sweater, 4 blankets
cold wintry May

white apple blossoms
pink margins hold them as they
appear, open, bloom

irid shiny head
black bodies search mowed grass, peck,
fly when I roll near

chuck chirp cheep cheep churp
churp churp cheep churp churp chirrp churp
I don’t like this song

slow catalpa waits
wisely keeps her leaves. three frosts
have struck this May

cat curl Sunday
sent away, he waits for me
and knows to return

banana crepe day
butter in frying pan melts
sun streams in kitchen

angry chatter chirps
each time door opens, a bird
swoops from nest on house

a small darkness hangs
above porch edge, twigs protrude
show where chicks nestle

soft thing holding fluff
within crisp pods, tethers seeds
need names to learn these

open the blinds
through pale brown sweet pea debris
white winged daffodils


cold April not spring
10 a.m. alarm too soon
curled cat won't leave you


clang of wind chimes
does not frighten worm seekers
iridescent birds

February

clouds of snowflakes fall
darkening day white with light
smothering hope


accumulation
up to one inch predicted
more cold stones rise

Lifelords take rent
from each generation
of a species life

the land does not say
i can't support many
policies say that

From January

2008 drums
Chinese men shout, make music
hearts beat better than war

dual deployment
children left behind at home
family in war

has the war hurt you?
no one you know went crazy
shovel yellow snow

street whore in winter
cold legs numb feet iced midriff
wind kisses her cheeks

Pablo Neruda
come see the blood in the streets
we wont look at it

glory glory
this sad year better than last
snow covers dark streets


holy mysteries
dark and light share the same source
sing we praise Christ's birth


Ella Mae Johnson
105, was there, wheel chaired
Obama moment

on Lincoln's bible
sworn, chosen hope over fear
millions wept and cheered

summer and cold fall
they confessed: yes, Obama!
pearls around brown throat

Helen Thomas seeks
justice, sixty years of questions
courage to ask

Helen thomas wrote
history cannot save him
our dead require peace

see what happens there
don't send arms to Israel
stop the suffering

american folks
language keeping thought at bay
death dealt in your name

big, crowned tan bird watched
visitation? Daddy sign?
female cardinal

wars for nothing waged
against all better judgement
self delusion reigned

speak often of god
grace in my gone loves, parents
this lamplight, this breath

each stitch amazes
lines become fabric. wise hook
twists thread, time. makes art

the last mimsy came
wanting help. heal the future
children's tears saved us

We honor our dead
by living seeing through rain
another planting

Obama o man
so many worked, prayed, fought, died
for this blessed day

New Year

new year wet thanks flow
warm house, ice box, cooked food, cat
memories of love