write away

spring cleaning

2009-04-05T17:10:00.000-04:00

...poetry will be found here for now.

equals

2009-03-21T20:45:00.003-04:00

one plus one

equals two

except when

two become one

which equals

burdens halved

joys multipliedone single impression

farewell

2009-03-15T00:00:00.002-04:00

word
slipped through the keys
onto blank screen
fare thee well
out there
in cyber-where?
streaming across the globe
by just one stroke
farewell...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

wishing

2009-03-12T19:22:00.000-04:00

mining the deep well
of melancholy
descent twined in things
that once were
once hoped for
now mourned
& untouchable
returned cup of dark water
gulped without pause
leaves aftertaste of longing.

adrift

2009-03-11T20:34:00.001-04:00

sound travels
across dark waters
echoing fog horn
tells of melancholic
sea swell,
my mind, a rocking boat
lulled about
stars' courses
adrift
as journeys blur
from wake
to sleep.

fork in the road

2009-03-07T20:32:00.004-05:00

i came upon
a fork in the road
perfect companion
to my knife & spoon
beckoning a bivouac
for the night
& dinner by the fire,
time to consider
the three-pronged joy
of the way i will go
when morning light
urges me to strike the tent
& move on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

fill

2009-03-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

be still, in silence
you are blinded
to my great peace
when you do not seek
the stillness with me;
you see a wall of worry
which my quiet gently lifts,
behind- my peace
as a still water in gentle light.
in the busy-ness
you hear the restless prattle
of evil's lies
but when you still yourself
i may place
the spittle & mud in your ears
to quiet that disonance,
then you may hear
the symphony of my creation
of joy, of calm.
let me touch you
in your quiet center
& hold you like a child
because you are my dear one
& i desire that you rest awhile.

emptying

2009-03-03T16:05:00.000-05:00

movement from the center
of known
torpedoes of light
fastforward
leave a blinding pain
& yet tethered to this dust,
roar of interior places
beats squeeze from the heart
freefalling into self
without landing,
spaces widen
& pain eagerly fills them,
this vessel
seemingly fragile
eases to the floor:
the movement is so frightening

joy

2009-02-26T15:52:00.000-05:00

when you stop for a moment
to consider
joy~ forced or real
all is well

kronos/kairos

2009-02-24T15:41:00.000-05:00

did you wonder
what the time meant
when the minute of a dream
turned over on the clock of reality?

twilight

2009-02-22T07:29:00.002-05:00

evening shadow
slanted low
i wonder what lies
on the other side
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

release

2009-02-21T15:50:00.000-05:00

despairing,
i shed the weight
in honest words
of true contrition
absolved
& made light

question

2009-02-19T15:58:00.000-05:00

the answer:
a poetry of still hummingbirds
& roses
washed up on the beach
a desire to hear
the chanted psalms
ancient tongue by candlelight
to lean against the masonry
of millenia
long settled places...
as i pluck
the last rose of summer
before the chill wind does
i hear no more sound
save the severed vine
(the silence of hurt)

semplice

2009-02-17T15:47:00.001-05:00

be not afraid
of time spent
stewing in magnificent turmoil
just live
& breathe

if only i had time...

2009-01-25T03:42:00.000-05:00

...i would
write the poem
that begs some ink
letting it
slowly drip from
the pen's tip
without a pause
in fluid release
until exhaustion
replaced the clamour
of words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...i would
take the slow train
to the places in my dreams
without an itinerary
ambling about
a destination i chose
when the whistle sounded
just right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...i would
sit in the midst
of those i love
& just be grateful
for one whole minute
without another thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...today i have the time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

fading memories

2009-01-18T13:34:00.004-05:00

i came by this way
only yesterday
i was but a girl
what stretched
out before
has come & gonelost in thought

i turned today

to catch a glimpse

of myself

in your lens

of fading memories

one single impression

a summer's day

2009-01-11T09:24:00.004-05:00

not so far beyond

the bare-limbed chill on the wind

lies a summer's day

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

one single impression

resolve/resolution

2009-01-01T05:01:00.000-05:00

with firm resolve
and clean slate of hopefulness
each day made new
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
have a blessed 2009!!

mezzanotte

2008-12-31T18:56:00.003-05:00

dyslexic christmas scene
stories told
of pasts i don't know
painted on the backdrop
of frozen evergreen
with open-windowed noises
whispering summers
voices
have another drink
to new year's cheer
try to find
the peace
in turbulent air
as revelers count down
mezzanotte
longing, far from home
i listen
for traces in the pause...
of comfort
i look
toward the unknown
standing in the shadows
of what was
answers in the flames
that burn
in the hearth
of my new year's
lullabye

stardust

2008-12-28T19:11:00.000-05:00

new moon sky
filled with
starry delight
cracks in heaven's floor
stardust
falls upon the shore
of nighttime's
winter dreams
moving slowly
in between
midnight thoughts
& slumbering nods
darkness holds
a long reign
with trails of stardust
in its wake
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

a winter's day

2008-12-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

late dawn peeking
a pink layer
across wind chill...
snuggle deeper
under down
comfort.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a fire building
in the hearth
& heart
with steaming mug
in hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
early twilight leaving
a wake of starry sky
candles lit
& vespers sung
a winter's day
is done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

hope

2008-12-12T22:20:00.001-05:00

in quiet hush

hear the angel's

whisper

softly across

december twilight

comfort

2008-12-09T18:09:00.002-05:00

wrapped in soft
by fire's warmth
winter content
in early dusk
candle glow
against the frost
while in the dark
beyond
snow gently falls

tired

2008-11-26T14:01:00.000-05:00

as life drips
slowly
from the container of my being
i've less reserve
& more stillness;
the widening spaces
within
are receptive,
taking in & turning over
expanding while time
is shrinking

childhood memory

2008-11-23T00:48:00.001-05:00

slipping through the cracks
of ordinary life
during a movement
a stirring of air
when i smell her perfume
slipping through the cracks
of celestial veil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

just...

2008-11-22T13:45:00.001-05:00

write your baggage
neatly in script
wrapped in pure white;
then...
crumple it
toss it
burn it

send it

publish it

& feel your burden

lessened.

courage

2008-11-16T00:35:00.000-05:00

to wake this day
knowing the flood of memories
saps my courage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i miss you, daddy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

surprise

2008-11-11T17:24:00.003-05:00

dreams long dormant

find their way to the surface

of my new reality

my smile is smug with certain joy

knowing you lifted the lid

of my pandora's box

to a flutter of life's confetti

paradox

2008-11-09T08:52:00.001-05:00

smile
even though the heart
weeps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

still

2008-11-04T20:50:00.001-05:00

i could not cry
so i let
the condensation
of my cold water glass
trace tears
for me

disguise

2008-11-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

under the guise of
cheerful smile & wave of hand
i mourn your absence
one single impression

gift

2008-10-29T12:59:00.000-04:00

echoing across
time's never-ending
whispers of wisdom
your words
to my childhood ears
a gift
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

never ending

2008-10-19T21:19:00.002-04:00

little breaths
in & out
each day
until the last one
but love
is never ending
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

gold

2008-10-12T04:59:00.002-04:00

they say gold is found
at the end of the rainbow,
but in the chase
to that one small place
all one can see
its undersided knots
of tapestry.

i say gold is found
in the light bending vista
sun streaming cloud
elegantly shroud
where one can see
the whole kaleidescope of
its tapestry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

late

2008-10-11T01:53:00.000-04:00

life's untender mercies
fleeting as sparrow's wings
leave in their wake
a solace
found on sun-warmed stones

lingering

2008-10-09T01:58:00.000-04:00

for a fraction of time
slide between
blissful sleep
& pounding awake
a moment's awareness
cascades into recognition-
dreams skimmed from the surface
of nighttime tide
compete with practical reality
the reverie of memories
recalling things that did not occur
& yet their presence with a clarity
not so easily lost in normal elegance
of daytime's passing events

fleeting2

2008-10-06T11:59:00.001-04:00

you believe
that you know a summer leaf
in the green,
but one morn you wake
discerning a change
to red
& the next...it's gone

serendipity

2008-10-05T01:30:00.004-04:00

fork in the road
of humble options,
path less tread
looks serendipitous
to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
serendipity
is not found
in backward glances
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
of all the wide world
through view of your lens i see
serendipity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

fleeting

2008-09-28T18:30:00.001-04:00

just as one bud
turned autumn leaf aflutter
& so your presence

chill air threatens
to invade every crevice
& so your presence

warmed sun behind
wind-driven cloud of dry
& so your presence

round seasons ply
in tangible hope espied
your fleeting presence

one single impression

autumn

2008-09-21T19:37:00.004-04:00

exhale of summer

one achingly beautiful

red leaf releasessea of field

yellow bloom belies the turn

soon to brownautumn wind

whispering through tired leaves

of firelight to come

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

one single impression

flow

2008-09-13T09:48:00.000-04:00

ocean wide

these dreams are pulled

in timeless currents

that lead me back to you

pilgrimage

2008-09-10T21:05:00.002-04:00

all the hard words in the world
will not settle
the undercurrent of unrest;
life on the journey
is not home,
a divided soul
stumbles on
sidestepping in a terrain
that will always be foreign
but not without
a promise~
whispered above the din
in time, to know
as we are known.

spectacle

2008-09-01T10:56:00.003-04:00

close up

life's spectacles all look

familiarthrough the lens

of life's grand vision

see as seen

one single impression

homecoming

2008-08-17T21:21:00.005-04:00

standing in the shade
a glimpse of home filters through
shift of summer breezein the longing, light

shining down on the journey

home is in your handpathway leading home

gliding over sea surface
spyglass safe return
one single impression

hope

2008-08-15T21:18:00.004-04:00

for josiah...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
bedside vigil
uttered prayers desperate
please don't go
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
unreal world
night is daytime, sounds incessant
that keeps you alivepray for breath of hope
hanging on each spoken word
nap in waiting room
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
life's fragile balance
hovering between two worlds
one hand keeps you hereplease, pray for Josiah.

stairways

2008-08-10T21:12:00.005-04:00

looking up, i see
a journey toward heaven
one step at a timeover timeworn stairs
sea of humanity flows
longing for the view

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

one single impression

faces

2008-07-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

faced with challenges
under the guise of a smile
memento morifrom afar, your warmth
hidden under marble mask
slips as i draw nearcaptured in content
time slips through centuries
holding your smile

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

one year...

2008-07-19T12:33:00.000-04:00

with these simple lines
one year of written words flow
from my heart to you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one year of poetry @ write away!

nap

2008-07-15T13:44:00.000-04:00

tired scratchy awake
after night of every number,
should i hear just one lull
of cicadas...
slumbery noonday
in gentle repose.

more travel...

2008-07-07T12:35:00.001-04:00

back & forth, jets fly

contrails of longing to go

fasten your seatbelt!

through a window

2008-07-06T02:46:00.000-04:00

through a dusty pane

outward glimpse of light & hope

forget the dishescozed lamplight billows

piercing the darkened street with

internal yearning

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

one single impression

vagabonding...

2008-07-05T13:35:00.000-04:00

i feel quite badly

no posting, no visiting

another journey...

independence day

2008-07-04T12:38:00.004-04:00

by fireworks' light
we reflect on sacrifice
freedom is not free

haiku!

2008-06-17T13:27:00.000-04:00

with only three lines
some tell whole stories
five, seven, five

permanence/transience

2008-06-15T19:11:00.003-04:00

the only thing of

real permanence in this life

is its transience

one single impression

jet lag

2008-05-28T13:13:00.000-04:00

i am awake

but on the wrong continent

six hours behind

reflection

2008-05-25T20:14:00.006-04:00

in the water

i see ripples of hope

staring backsilent glide

across mirrored surface

two skiesone drop falls

onto still surface

ripples outwardspatter of sunlight

shimmering dance of surface

tickled reflectionmirror image

reflection in stillness

morning light

one single impression

bleeding

2008-05-18T13:30:00.005-04:00

across the white page

words of a fountain pen bleed

infusing new lifebleeding hearts pass by

with nary a sidelong glance

stranger to your plightone careless word cuts

with skill of a surgeon's knife

hope bleeds from the wound

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

one single impression

warm

2008-05-11T09:40:00.004-04:00

in stony repose

block of stone becomes vision

of warmth in sun's raya week of burden

grown heavy on the heart

warmed by love's prompthope is a flower

warmed in sun-showers of love

that blooms in the heart

deserted/desert

2008-05-04T18:35:00.004-04:00

once in newborn joy

you crashed into our world

and now you are gonesea of lonely sand

but not without lush center

desert oasis

one single impression

flowering

2008-04-27T07:28:00.008-04:00

springing upon us

from the ruins of winter

open full-flower

heady scent of air

petal soft breezes enchant

dance of bumble bee

ascent/descent

2008-04-19T13:50:00.002-04:00

poems from the road...firenze
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
out of touch
with everything i knew
& yet something found...
a thing i have always known;
paradise
in the swirl of an ancient stair
with drifting scent
of fresh rainwater
& carved earth,
the view from the top
is one i always knew.
sunlight pouring through
i pause for descent
to be swallowed by the walls
of the aged city.

cimitero

2008-04-17T12:27:00.005-04:00

poems from the road~~ venezia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
pass through the arch
portal of ancient stone
even the sleep of death
is not quieted
while the heart beats
filling ears from inside
with clamour for life;
trickle of fine mist
competes with tender touch
of notes falling through trees
cascade of loss
tumbles outward
through broken glass,
peeking between spaces of solid wrought
twirls of floral arrangement
that do not die
an angel frozen in hope
with a fine dust of incident
guarding your cramped bones;
they say you rest
and i must catch a boat
returning to the mainland.

poems from the road...

2008-04-13T14:55:00.004-04:00

Touchdown
they say life is not your destination,
but rather life is the journey along the way.
the view of angels from 35,000 feet
holds marvels for certain
but I like to think that sometimes
the touchdown on terra firma,
is just a bit more comforting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stop & Go
a series of hurry up & wait moments
peppered with sleep deprivation
cannot quell the hopeful tingle
felt on the last leg of the journey
just before arrival

poems from the road...departure

2008-04-12T14:24:00.003-04:00

on the journey from north carolina to venezia, italia...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
wanderlust
spreads out before my heart
cupid's contrails
celebrate national poetry month!!

winds of change

2008-04-09T09:47:00.000-04:00

how can it be
that a night step onto the deck
yields wind chills
from the north
that smack of january
but in just a few short hours
that same spot is wrapped
in fragrant swirl
of southerly breeze
that bears lofting petals
of april's soft embrace?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!!

vagabonding

2008-04-08T08:23:00.001-04:00

journey of thousands
of miles
beginning, not with a step
but with a click
to a window on the world
i long to see.

many months later
after electronic plans laid,
seconds ticked by
days crossed off
(though living in the present,
relishing with gratitude
did not put the X on the calendar's
pages)
it is time to fly.

almost caught off guard
& yet living a dream,
bags packed with love & smiles
(the just-right shirt
is an afterthought)
do i need more?

i do
but only that
which is found
along the way
on the path
of my vagabonding dreams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!!

nice

2008-04-07T07:22:00.001-04:00

ul...i'm a bit late on my gratitude for this honor...but thank you!

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

in these days

of rush-about madness

nice does matter

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

please take a moment to visit ul & enjoy a truly nice blog...

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

celebrate national poetry month!!

stranded

2008-04-06T16:21:00.002-04:00

tumultous wave
ebb & flow in fractured light
stranded on the sand
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
crashing thoughts
stranded in verbal debris
pause of silence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chaos all around
washed on the shore of my need
island moment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression
celebrate national poetry month!

passing

2008-04-05T08:28:00.001-04:00

cloudscape in motion
thunderheads storm out to sea
blue horizon west
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!!

being

2008-04-04T20:26:00.001-04:00

to be present
as branches in the breeze
eyes, hands, heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!!

rain

2008-04-03T18:29:00.001-04:00

april showers
after glowing days of sun
petal drops
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!!

fools

2008-04-02T14:47:00.001-04:00

i, the april fool
fell for your silly charade
my own holiday
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!

beckoning...

2008-04-01T09:22:00.004-04:00

jewel-toned hush
of evening shadows
on my restless mind,
dinner nagging for attention
that has walked out the door.

light lingers~
who am i to ignore
the slide of the sun
back into my hemisphere,
greedy in the hug of warmth
i drink the air
of blossoms & birdsongs
like a dying woman.

make a sandwish, i call
over my shoulder
to the hungry masses;
or rather have your fill of this:
a feast for the eyes, longing
for color painted
over death's brown.

let go of other's realities
filtering into the so-called living
room,
start living your own
the breeze
a perfect dance partner,
never winded
& with no left feet.

let twilight settle
on your skin,
you wear it better
than any designer suit;
take a moment to unplug
your ears
from others' odes to joy;
listen to your very own
heard before you were born.

do not assume
that your task list
is more important than
the crickets' evening chorus;
they sing for you, you know.

as light grows wide
step into its glow
to see who you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!!

enchanted april

2008-04-01T09:08:00.003-04:00

teasing days
sun scurries from cloud to cloud
dashing raindrops
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
transforming
each drop from leaden sky
green-jeweled branch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
birdsong on the wind
woven with sun's warming rays
tapestry of spring
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate national poetry month!

laughter

2008-03-31T10:19:00.003-04:00

breath
given to something of joy
escapes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a sea of voice
above the din of the crowd
laughter escapes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
riding the crest
over heads & gossipy words
laughter emanates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
heads turn
in the direction, sour words lost
laughter embraced
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
heads tilt
smiles involuntarily form
memories churn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
sound of power
filling spaces of empty words
laughter's embrace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
one single impression

stop

2008-03-28T16:29:00.003-04:00

long to-do list
a rise of tension beckons
to evening walk

vigil

2008-03-22T21:50:00.002-04:00

in hushed night
procession of candles
illuminate the journey
through hope
through pain
light before first rays
of dawn
words sung
we journey on

croce

2008-03-21T21:45:00.001-04:00

burdens beared
without words of reproach
sacred splinters

love
fastened the nails
through flesh

spring

2008-03-20T21:35:00.003-04:00

on the heels

of fall's decaying leaves

daffodils

holy thursday

2008-03-15T21:40:00.002-04:00

dusty feet
traversing holy ground
servitude

in recesses
of reigning chaos, last supper
blessed & broken

nightfall
sweating tears of blood
in a garden

2008-03-15T21:33:00.001-04:00

ides of march
stab of winter in spring
e tu brute`

wind/water

2008-03-14T16:24:00.000-04:00

wind across water
rushing dance of ripples flow
in sacred exhale

gusty patterns
traced on water's surface
dancing in sun

leave the shore
for places unknown
traveling blue

drowsing

2008-03-12T15:45:00.000-04:00

tired blanket
falling across my soul
like snow
from a leadened sky,
fixed on a candle
my eyes heavy
with twilight
cannot resist
this gentle lullaby.

malady of a winter eve
you bring peace
in spite of my
resistance - my wish
toward warmth & long light,

i find myself
content
in the barren landscape
& early night.

kindness

2008-03-09T08:41:00.004-04:00

random acts

woven into day's tapestry

stranger, now friend

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

door held wide

you turn with a smile

i pass through

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

stumble & fall

red-faced, books embarrassed sprawl

your hand reaches out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~cold hands

accept steaming cup of tea

heart warmed

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

kind eyes

meet across crowded room

forgiven

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

weary trudge

porch-front beckon of friend

sit a spell~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

kindness of strangers

in unsuspecting moments

desert oasis

one single impression

almost

2008-03-08T09:37:00.000-05:00

warmer than usual
weather of uncommon hope
leaves yellowed some
but never faded.
on the tip of one shoot
you struggled
against a rollercoaster climate
to open, full
& yet, never quite;
last rose of summer
only a bud
that in fragile decay
touches
spring's delicate push

storm

2008-03-07T21:26:00.003-05:00

wind seeping
through the woodwork's pause
along with night

driving rain
throwing a sideways glance
vertical tear

homing
through wind & rain
i yearn

at last, threshold
warm caress of porchlight
port in the storm

shift

2008-03-05T18:23:00.003-05:00

eventide
stilled to a whisper
first star
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
mining memories
time travel at touch of your hand
one tear falls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chapel veil
surrounding my eyes
thread of incense
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shadows fall
in spectrum of blue
cricket song

change

2008-03-02T12:09:00.003-05:00

your head once nestled
snuggly under my chin
now mine under yours

tiny baby feet
soft wiggling toes of delight
now size ten sneaker

carried on my hip
hands held tight now push away
let me down

eye rolled message sent
my mothers words from my mouth
eye roll now received

one single impression

signs

2008-02-29T13:37:00.003-05:00

leap of faith
into spring's longing
daffodils

bright plumage
flashes around the feeder
spring's herald

waning moon
shine on mockingbird call
last of winter

ink

2008-02-24T08:16:00.000-05:00

ink spilling with

words of uncertainy

switch to pencil

black ink in swift strokes

sign on the dotted line

life-changing eventquill perched

in perfect ink well

blank parchment

cannot refuse

marriage of pen & paper

words slip through

one deep breath

february

2008-02-20T14:07:00.000-05:00

bare branches
heavenward reaching
redwing song

short month
ushering love, candlelight
eye on equinox

hibernating eyes
ravage stark landscape
sign of spring

arctic air
pushed out to sea
conflicted weather

undercurrent

2008-02-15T05:09:00.000-05:00

smile on the outside
hiding turbulent waters
of pain's erosion

a choice

2008-02-14T21:34:00.000-05:00

a million little things
tugging at my shirttail
but when i turn
they have vanished
in a wisp of not important
though i still feel the drag
of their incessant pleading

caught between "should" & "wish"
i brew a cup of tea
& snuggle with my son
wearing earplugs of love
deaf to the daily drudge
the circle of what matters
is in this moment

love

2008-02-12T08:44:00.000-05:00

between wake & sleep

soft kiss on forehead, blanket tuck

threshhold of sweet dream

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~walk a country path

amid the dying season

wrinkled hands entwined

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~no greater love

daily dying to selfish ways

for another

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~endless circle

metaphor of love's mettle

with this ring i wed

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

one deep breath

almsgiving

2008-02-09T12:26:00.000-05:00

over coffee in hip elegence
we linger...
photos of the forgotten
who warm hands
over wood fires
yet with eyes that sparkle
more than electric lights.

joy
under a charlie brown christmas tree
liberal use of color
& smiles,
unaware of our abundance
a warm coat, a luxury

i ask what we might do.
a warm coat, please
was her soft reply.

& prayers.
take the photos...
be reminded
heat isn't always
so easy to come by

& to dust you shall return...

2008-02-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

in late winter light
a deserted path
i trod;
crunching on last
summer's bounty,
i listened
with my heart's ear
to her words
over time
& was drawn
to the peaceful
tired hillside,
no sound
but call of lone crow.

slab of granite
upturned to face God
names etched...
i read my sad history
& mourned
their forgottenness.

it touched my heart:
they were babes
laid here by grieving parents,
not one left to hold,
all were gone.
how did they manage to move forward
from this?

how does one leave
all her children
on this cold hillside
alone & still?
the weight of her grief
hurt my heart
on the walk back
to my life;

i said a prayer
for her strength
that i hoped would travel
back over time passed
& ease her burden
just a little
so that she
could walk this path too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
with love to my great-grandma who bore this burden in 1897, burying all four of her children in the space of one week...

mercoledi` delle ceneri

2008-02-06T15:52:00.000-05:00

dust to dust
mortal reminder visible
of interior loathe

words unstop ears
piercing of heart's selfishness
movement of grace

desert journey plodding
through winter's barrenness toward
healing rays of spring

forward

2008-02-01T07:31:00.000-05:00

seeking
every little sign
lengthening days
changing light
new birdsong
on the wind
trickle of green
amidst brown,
scarcity revels
in simplicity;
winter
turning spring

quince

2008-01-28T09:16:00.000-05:00

eyes blink

unbelieving, pink flutters

among winter thorns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
last year's bounty

dying, hope of harvest passed

nearby, new bloom