all hallow's eve

the carving knife stands ready

full-wicked candles in the wing

mr. roundy pumpkin

soon to get a grin!

guts of seeds to roasting

soul cakes on the rise

hooting owl & clever moon

promise ghoulish surprise!

don the mask at sundown

quick, not to be seen

cackling laugh heard echoing

tonight is hallowe'en!

change II

turn away in dread

surrender to the moment

relief in the new

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

evening shadows fall

velvet night in quiet lull

morning rays awake

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

looking back i see

growth into the forward me

janus i can be

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

new horizon calls

winds of change beckoning forth

let go, autumn leaf

one deep breath

change

not ready
to face the steely grey
or brace myself against the blast
that will free the dying leaves

not ready
to prune back summer's best
or find among the thorns
the last rose bud never to full flower

not ready
for early twilight's canopy covering the world
or early morning's wakefulness
still steeped in the dark

summer left on the wind
born of a northern force
ushering in the length of night
emboldening brilliant moonshine
not asking, are you ready
bringing forth an urging deep & primal
for firelight & homing
rhythm moving on
ready or not
solstice bound
the turn of tide
winter's presence made known

hurricane

driving wind & rain
drawn together 'round the flame
shingles flying free

closeness

season of candle

blood of the grape in my glass

gather 'round to toast

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

over candlelight

gelato di limone

two spoons in one dish

one deep breath

marriage

the glory of two
hope is centered on the vine
and growth is outward

one deep breath...closeness

late bloomer

intrepid flower

bursting forth five months beyond

bloom out of season

balance

teetering on edge

focus in still quiet hope

i do it for you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

off balance scatter

return to the hope that is

centering prayer

one deep breath...

above

i heard your voice

in the whispers & chants

just for a moment

i closed my eyes

& felt myself rise

out of ordinary

into the loft

of divine notes.

primary color

flashes of yellow
butterfly on goldenrod
in the sunbeam's light

simple pleasures...

whistling kettle
steaming cup, evening respite
day's cares drift away

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

sheets in summer breeze
scent of the wind and sunshine
insomnia's cure

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

tomato home-grown
lop-sided juicy and red
harvest of my heart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

stir of a chill breeze
scent of autumn on the wind
leaf dance of delight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

one deep breath

skylights

early morning rise
venus & the waning moon
just behind, the sun

boyworld

rambling about

lost in thoughts of neverland

come in for dinner

small

fingers fly
over the letters
one touch
to a world
grammatical smile
shared hope

little lamb

chime in

with your majesty,

cut through the thick august air,

scolding my thoughts

as though a tear

was wrong...

shed for a little lamb

a full century & a half gone,

set among roses

trunk thick with time...

the past smells possible

& close by

heavy with sorrow.

momma, your name is carved

trickled soft by rains...

it saddens my heart

to see your gift

stone cold

reminding me of our

present postures apart...

i am trying to learn

what this means

to feel your love from where

& live without your soft hugs.