Call and Response: 12: Downtown

Downtown
Originally uploaded by vajra

something has changed
we don't need to hurry
the end will come
soon
enough

Call and Response: Day 12: Mailboxes

These sturdy red mailboxes hold ready letters for the dead
family decoupaged onto the hearts of those left whittling
hallelujah recall or riding out the early grief on bareback

where otherwise sister and mother would stand mid-infinity
at the shiny boxes' mouths in morning, groaning


(with acknowledgement to the Martinez family, Santa Fe, 2010)

Call and Response: 11th Day: Cole In the Rain

rain in windblown cold
torrents and steam on windows
we drink dark coffee

Cole In the Rain
Originally uploaded by vajra

Call and Response: Day 11: Eleven p.m.

Eleven p.m. airport in Albuquerque
only incoming flights at this hour
planes filled with teens toting home
west coast enthusiasm
more effective than caffeine
for pairs of parents waiting
while the rest of the work force turns
in their sleep, gates drawn down on this day

Call and Response: Day Ten: Fat Tuesday Parade

Fat Tuesday Parade

Fat Tuesday Parade

Not many of us but enough to introduce
our city of sainted enchantment to true New Orleans
survivalists. Hot pink feathers in one girl's hair
                and a matching boa of lipstick
at the neck of another's, night
                drumming the wind of our mutual black
blue and silver instruments.

Call and Response: Day 10: Single

Single
Originally uploaded by vajra

Spring rushes forward
caught between abundance and
restraint

the single poppy
the thousand plum blossoms
each

but I refuse the choice
instead I walk from gold to pink
aglow

Call And Response: Day 9: Howe Now

Howe Now
Originally uploaded by vajra

rain transforms the city
streets wet and clean
petals swept away
brief fierce gusts against
fragile umbrellas
cars and lights shine
against gray skies