Whooping Crane

Whooping crane dances
on extinction's edge,
struggles to keep big
struggling snake in beak,
a meal, succeeds, swallows,
soars over salt marsh on
strong white wings,fragils
as all of us living things.

Salt

Salt enhances
taste of food.
Salt of tears
enhances joy.

Help Received

Advantage of living together
is when I stumble to bed
exhausted after long day,
late bath, someone who
loves me will pick up
wet towel I left on floor.
Privledge to return the favor.

Timeless

Clock counts minutes.
Moments drop outside time.
not measured, treasured.

Laced

Lace is mostly holes,
artfully arranged,
like family history.
Blank spaces are
connected by stories
they told, we tell.
History keeps us apart,
holds us together.
History is lace.
Lace is mostly holes

Single Silver Bead

Each silver splatter
wild wave tosses skyward
hangs like a silver bead,
no more or less precious
than first drop or last.

Illusion

The doctor said they were almost home
right before the baby's heart stopped.

Retired husband told wife almost home
a week before her Alsheimer's diagnosis.

Young mother relaxed, almost home
as she felt the car's brakes fail.

Peacemaker dared trust almost home
seconds before assassin's bullet struck.

Never trust almost.

Prey

The headlights scanned the yard.
The girl cowered behind bushes.
She had to get away. Eighty seven
dollars in coat pocket, her tooth
brush and tooth paste, a friendship
bracelet from fourth grade, two
phone numbers. She had to get away.
Before he killed her. Or she killed him.
The headlights scanned the yard.

Strong Scented

Salt Marsh reminds me
Being born and dying
smell much the same.

Grief

White mist enveloped the earth.
Guide lights flickered out.
White mist enveloped the earth.
Landmarks faded from sight.
White mist enveloped the earth.
No mirror reflected my face.
White mist enveloped the earth.
You died and left me.

Arrogant Trees

Arrogant trees
have not met
lightening.

Longest Day - 2011

Pale pink clouds streak dimming sky
I stand four stories above city river
alone on balcony in cypress branches.
Grackles struggle raucous to settle
for shortest night. Diners, drinkers
at restaurants below laugh, shout life.
Cool wind stirs hot air, lifts my hair.
Cycle shifts away from increase.
Reminds me, no matter how long
the day, how short the night,
death always sits at the table.

Passage

In the the fringe of the forest
highway sounds intrude,
mundane thoughts babble.
The air cools and birdsong
beckons. Trail softens
with pine straw, oak leaf.
Downy blue feather drifts
down to rest on my boot.
Silence surrounds, fills.
I have entered peace.

Slipping Through

Happy summer,
laughing grandchildren
never knew you.
In the middle
of a ticklefest,
sorrow slips through.

What I Know for Sure

Real is better than perfect.
To thy own self be true.
Love, not ego.
When all else fails, be kind.
Now may be the only moment I have.
Now is enough.
Nothing is certain.
Everything is multidetermined.
Everything changes.

Integrity

I must remember
Never meanness,
Truth always
Ego never.
Give to give.
Treat all fairly.
You must remember.

Courage

Courage stands at the edge
of the void and jumps in.

Curiosity in the Garden

Why is the hoe sharp?
Why does it dig dirt?
Why is the dirt hard?
How does the worm
dig through hard dirt?
How do you know this
worm is not a friend?
How does a little worm
eat a big tomato?
What happens to the
worm when it rains?
Can worms dig in mud?
Why is the sun hot?
I want to go inside,
drink water now.

An Odd Child

An odd child
the school nurse
described me in
the notebook left
open on her desk.
I knew it was true,
took it more with
pride than hurt.
Prone to poetry
and ribbons,
careful words
careless numbers,
better in a crisis
than at a party,
serious, sensitive,
a good listener,
fascinated by people
but happy alone.
I was an odd child,
grew into an odd woman.
Still like it just fine.

A Boy's Promise

When I am grown
and have kids who love me,
I won't hurt their mother
so she has to send me away.
She won't hurt me.
We will all stay together
and love each other
when I am grown.

Honor Thoughts that Come in the Night

Honor thoughts that come in the night.
Logic loses power when dusk dims day.
Honor thoughts that come in the night.
Moon dissolves limits clear by sun.
Honor thoughts that come in the night.
Hopes, like fears take wing in shadow.
Honor thoughts that come in the night.
Magic arises with fog from the grass.
Honor thoughts that come in the night.
Moonlit pond mirrors soul's secrets.
Honor thoughts that come in the night.
The owl sees as well as the eagle.
Honor thoughts that come in the night.
Night truths balance truths of day.

Turtle in the Tub

I hear you crashing against the porcelain
walls of your temporary prison.
You have out grown your tank,
dinnerplate now, not the silver dollar
Danny purchased proudly with allowance.
You have not outgrown his love.
Boy struggles to choose to keep or
to release, to see you as his or
your own. A parent's dilemma,
hard to master at any age.

Double Take

You stretch a long leg
effortlessly above your head
and your flame hair shimmers.
Rhinestone Tinkerbell
necklace glitters
at your pale throat.
Shyness and determination
vie for control of your eyes.
You could be your mother.
You could be my ghost.
You are however
marvelously
yourself.