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

Year End

holidays looming
economy swooning
after snow, birds sing

something he made clear
that screechy shriek was bird's song
sung now: come back love

cat sits by food bowl
not yet empty. he knows once
i was gone four months

your watch has ended
you brought us to the brink
don't push us over

they flew private jets
begging for money for cars
we fail ourselves now

noon sunlight wakes me
shivering under covers
the cold comes too soon

japanese soldier
in Siberian gulag
comes to love that land

gulag prisoner
poison into medicine
digs to find the past

mourning my dead cat
i try not to deny love
to the one still here

dusk without lights on
grey navy blue, furnace hum
large cat shadow moves

there is only me here
why is there not enough hot
water to shower

xenophobia
you enjoy a football game
just by taking sides

blame hurts me the most
i swear i don't want this pain
don't need this lesson

he sends me e-cards
telling me to be thankful
presuming to know

ant legs shaved, on stilts
tell us what we want to know
how they know to go

though it takes 3 hours
i give thanks for my shower
touching all over

ahh how it should be
ripe bananas, bright sunlight
great tunes on the box

deep level change comes
end rankism. nobodies
become somebodies

my penned hand thinks better than me

Advent: what's to come
waiting through the darknesses
praying for more, light

Nobel's peace land arms
many nations, makes more guns
than any other

they slept in the plant
2 million owed the workers
we must fix this mess

Raul Flores says
strong workers of Republic
stand united, win

he hopes all learn this
community makes us strong
a forest shelters

not about the song
but the singing, ancient, strong
carried freedom on

toxic debt spews ash
melting schemes, jobs, homes, lives, dreams
covering us all

Sunday intrusion
10 am knock and bell ring
shovels scrape and roar

winter solstice sun
light after storm Daddy's sign
his Happy Birthday

Pray for New Hampshire
Zimbabwe, Congo, Darfur
fuel, food, safety, peace

cat knows at long last
don't ask, don't pace by the door
too cold to go out

we begin again
loss will cease, day will lengthen
snow melt, warm sunshine

Sunday, December, NPR

care package gift
restores vocabulary
food that flavors life

Bobby Hutcherson
singing hammers resonate
soul metal ringing

they did not free us
North Sea swingers imbibe jazz
but they sing our songs

called the dog a dog
threw shoes at lame fowl ruler
president bush ducked

stitch holders, needles
found under, around me, lost
places I can't feel

they were forewarned
they said when New York, who, how
this is true,they knew

katrina showed
government doesnt work
when not allowed

rebuild defenses
American century
neocons played war

December sunday

white jazz singer scats
my father wouldn't like her
i miss his great ears

i sang that tune once
hills alive with music's sound
all i must relearn

light streams through white blinds
bright gold bars float on wood floor
bird shadows flutter

crocheting Christmas
new designs meet old standards
trees, neckwarmers, love

my family
people i don't know talking
on the radio

Sunday radio
secular worship, hearing
all day NPR

La Bohème, Carmen,
Madame Butterfly, Mommy,
i hear you in these