
exposed,
the fence’s tears
welcomed the quickening thaw

exposed,
the fence’s tears
welcomed the quickening thaw

i want to hear the stick snap,
see the hawk’s wings flap,
stand on a stone and let the rain
wash my spirit clean again

we turn away,
walk away,
run away
toward the horizon in our minds

picking pinecones in the sun
clementine peels on the counter
the smell of the air after a snow storm
frosted glass mushrooms
long feathers and green moss
hot coffee in the afternoon
glass beads in violet, blue and green
flannel coats on little puppies
worn wood and peeling paint



tiny people of celtic legends
curl themselves into green leaves,
leaning toward the rays of the sun,
streaming through beveled glass panes
and distant dreams of summer days

she undresses,
and with her soul exposed to the elements,
she lies still and frozen–
covered by thick ice and casual indifference

tea roses in yellow hues
delicate orange and copper beads
aquamarine waves of lapping water
mahogany mountains yawning in the distance
a spanish saffron sun

it was in the waning afternoon,
that i walked along the river–
the wind whipping my cheeks,
stinging my eyes and holding my cold hands–
later, in the depths of a dark winter evening
it hurled itself against the glass windows,
whispering and crying for attention

the frozen marsh
receives us with a cold shoulder
and a stilled silence
which breaks only with the sorrowful
call of a blue-black crow


Merry Holidays to you and to your families.
Be safe, warm and happy and I’ll see you again in January.