Hoofsteps

once upon a time 

she ran up the street of breathless 

anticipation

men stopped to watch as she

a gazelle far from the dry savannahs

made her way up the hill

her breath warm and quick

her heart beating faster faster

faster than the big cat who waited

once upon a time

Shi

soft

white

petals

blush

Absence

words you don't hear

cobbler

haberdasher

winter

The Rose Umbrella: Week 2: Magnolia Denudata

the deciduous magnolia

pure and calm

as it opens to reveal 

it's hot pink core

life passion tomorrow 

contained in that dark center

wait for the petals to fall

one by on

Evening

pink and apricot

against the palest blue

trees soften along branch edges

Spring lies hidden in Winter's embrace

I see her shy smile as I drive by

So Far

the little bit 

the slice

of concrete 

the pile of bricks

a sign telling you the way to

a place you will never visit

a place you pray to God you will never visit

I was talking about concrete

about building materials

piles of geometry

that catch the

aperture

unaware 

Cupboard Weather: Spring

if Winter comes

then rain

if rain comes

then earth

If rain and earth come 

then grass turns hills

if rain and earth and grass

if Winter and hills

if they as in a plural or a group

they as a family or intention

they as a moment when

night is at its darkest

then Spring

Waiting For New

here is the old bridge

here the new

November's light soft and round as a pearl 

matches my memory of you 

farewell

adieu

Cupboard Weather: 46 Weeks: Water

slight rain 

yesterday's dark morning  

reflected in the white earthenware 

birdbath welcome and insufficient

it's not the downfall

but  the snowpack 

miles away and years ago

Cupboard Weather: 44 Weeks: Rainy Days

the rain came

soaking the parade

which would not be called

because the season is over

and "we" won

the rain came

making the sidewalk 

glow as the dust washes off

and the red leaves beckon

mysterious

the rain came

it's still too early

for the weather head

to tell as that we should 

look forward to sun

the rain came

stoking the need for hot

tea and a new book

a secret cupboard

to hide my heart in

Tanka

sometimes the photo

crisp sharp as the cloud above

your bike or faded

lthe late Fifties were not as

good as we  remembered

Haiga

wings spread edges

buildings beautify corners

crisp bite of sky

Haiga

building sharp edges

light against dark against light

afternoon detail

Flowers

flow

hours

softly

like

petals

Window

outside the window

café tableau 

a man 

I do not know 

outside the window

stately Gingko

transforms 

Autumn yellow

Haiga

early camellia

entices the striped bee

Autumn appointment

Shi

angles

to

cut

souls

Journal

heat and noise transform

the quiet Sunday café

he writes cool silence

Shi

sweet

hot

California

bluegrass

Shi

light

falls

against 

tomorrow