morning
the quiet stillness of morning
incense smoke unfurls
my tea is made
the sky is stainless
expansive
clear with a knowingness
it doesn’t have
but I do
the pencil on the page
scrapes a whisper
i sit in the same seat
staring at the same sky
as I have the last three years
on the bones of the morning
fleshing out with joyful diligence
my heart’s expanse
that lucid cognizance
the sun’s rays bring to the sky
06.10.12
the morning stumble
put the kettle on
drop to the cushion
dawn fills the cabin
refreshing cool morning air
no morning shower
light fills the valleys
no more so
because I’m here watching
golden warmth slowly edging closer
my heart rising with the sun
middle of the night
as always,
the cat is outside.
the smell wafts in —
she messed with
the temperamental skunk
who lives in the wood pile
again.
suddenly, the horrific scream
of that unknown animal
I’m tempted yet again
to pierce the darkness
with my light
to try and locate
the gleaming eyes
of the screamer.
But I don’t —
just let the hair on my arms
rise in terror at the sound
and fall back into silent slumber.
Northern Flicker
My first spring
Saw him through binoculars
Tapping the dead tree to the west
Found his picture in my book
Confirmed by his loud call
KIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKI……
Second spring,
Snow piles melting into small ponds,
I recognized the call
As an omen of spring
At the end of a long winter
The third year
I heard the call
On the exact first day of spring
Imagine that!
Right on time!
Today is the third day of spring —
My fourth—
And this morning the call echoed its familiar message
Wake up crocuses!
Wake up senses!
And as a native now to this land
Like mullein or balsamroot
I was waiting for the call
To drop my tender rootlets into the ground
Uncurl my winter fetal hibernation
Poke fresh green sprouts
Toward the sun
And enter into the world anew

Featured image and photo of blue sky by Starbright, USA. Photo of sunrise by 郑 胡, China. Photo of night by Unsplash, England. Photo of springtime by Hannu Jakobsson, Finland.