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.

juicy

sun warmed, fresh picked bite
streaming down the joyful chin
harvest of content

calling

i am a conduit
a mere vessel
whem empty
You may fill
when open
You may flow.

given

the gift you have been given
you must give in return,
go forth - not lightly
into the heart of life,
living in the abundance of God,
not caring nor worrying
but rather in hope & trust,
embracing God's wonder & presence
in every drop of the created,
reveling in holy enchantment
& the gentle lap of Love.
living thus is the only gift
we may truly give.

equinox

summer's airy breeze
perfect balance of sunlight
golden leaf let go

endings

last day of summer
sticky haze through autumn light
green mingling gold

seascape

the ocean is grief
our collective tears
raging in grey waves
pounding the sad sand
pulling against our wish.

the ocean is healing
a gentle flow of change
a play of light
rocking in motherly motion
sweet song in our ears.

sight

man by the road
in a posture of prayer
begging me to enter
into the ugliness of my surplus
and see
what i truly need
will fit in one bag
and my heart.

cradle of green

you caught my eye
in spite of the early morning haze
not enough coffee tasted-
away...my mind's wandering
the morning's freedom
not yet perusing a mental must-do;
a breeze lifted some of your bounty
just enough
amused, i turned my head.
your dreamy, verdant green
dripping with fresh dew
spilling over the edge
yet upturned in heliotropic wonder.
for one fairy-tale moment i imagine
that i am able to be contained
in repose on that one perfect leaf
rocked in the breeze
before i am fully awake.

poignant

when did you grow so tall
when did you reach beyond
when did your footprint
start to envelope mine
when did you begin to understand
the subtle nuances of life
i know i've looked carefully
all along the way
but some things grow in silence
just beyond the knowing
as the days pass in living
right before our eyes
soon you will be watching
as i've done with you
and you too will wonder
how it's come this far
from where it all began

charleston

holy city haze
enrobed in august summer
sit a spell - refresh

vapor

exhale of long
from the depths
warm, moist air
of the beginning
expanding haze
diffused light of midday.
deep, wet breath - inhale
heavy with time
& with life
languid movement
seductive slow
in summer's airy plight.

consolation

illuminated colors, captured still
hard to imagine your reality
of flesh & toil,
of knowledge deep
of pain that pierces a heart.
sunlight from behind
candlelight flickering
midday welcome into the quiet
beneath your benign smile.
inhale & sigh-
lay my worries on the cool ground
unburdened
for but a moment
thoughts turned to something more
for that time.
to return is somehow easier
because
on ordinary days
you mothered too

rosario

murmuring in tongues
late afternoon light
mingles with my solitude
in sanctuary.
i rise - not wanting to intrude
but weighted i may not go
& so the words wash over me
Ave Maria
in beams of sea light.
words i may soon join
as i gain clarity
surrounded by pillars:
flesh & stone
i am pulled into what i sought-
Word & Communion
to slake my thirst
& bind my heart
in a gentle stitch
with timeless thread
spun in love
in a not-so-foreign land

for lisa

The sunlight has bathed
The once-dark room;
The candlelight that banished
The curse
Is now enveloped
In the daylight of hope.
My life-breath passes over the flame
But does not blow it out.
The flame vanishes
In a whisp of air;
A tendril of smoke
Rises to celestial realms.
I thread my gratitude
Into its delicate haze
And it becomes my prayer.

3am

a nudge from the fog of good sleep
not sorry to see the moon
pouring comfort into the deep night
cool stone under my feet, grounding consolation
necessary stop & slaking of thirst
but not back to repose...
first slip out the door into warm night air
slight stirring breeze & serenade
raise my arms in delight, hair tickling my face
then
slip back under cover, sigh to sleep

artist

if i promise to write
the words you paint,
will you also
give color to my verse?
when i walk on the journey,
your capture of light
pulls me from my blindness.
please free my pen
from monotone ink,
onto the canvas
breathe life.