Saturday, November 4, 2017

NOVEMBER 2017


Basking up high 
hawks soak up golden rays
November morning 


Beaver Moon

Last night Luna was hidden
her fullness veiled
racing storm clouds
obscured her pale face
today's blue skies
hold a promise maybe
she'll be revealed
tonight in all of her
brilliant celestial glory
promise kept


I remember when there was
life before dogs
growing up with grandma
she deadly afraid of dogs
but always I yearned for
steadfast canine companionship

I remember my wedding gift
being a tiny Schnauzer pup
all silvery fur bushy eyebrows
adorable black truffle snout
puppy breath perky ears sharp teeth
chewed at my veil and nibbled shoes

I remember when our dogs
were of the small variety
miniatures all compact bodies
just right for city living
long before the advent
of large country dogs cast away

I remember when we first saw
this huge striped dog
sitting near a country pond
looking lost and forlorn
nervously barking at strangers
twice daily we brought food

I remember how his eyes closed
in utter bliss as a collar
was slipped over his head
and he was told come on boy
he followed me never hesitating
jumping into our little truck

I remember when having a dog
was just a dream never knowing
that one day the dream would
be multiplied over and over
that our yard would be filled
with those once homeless and lost

***

Tide of hungry quail
rushes in swiftly
dainty headgear
like feathery bells
ring a ding ding
eager scratching
clucking muttering
moving as one
our morning delight
growing plumper each day


Endless bronzed hills
roll toward the horizon
soon young green will sprout
pastures awash once more
rich green waves undulating
whipped by fierce winds
like a vast verdant inland sea
heavy clouds generously spilled
their heavy load across the land
each nourishing drop cherished
welcomed at the end of this rainy day


Hark...who goes there
bright eyes alert
slowly closing ranks
carefully surveying us
as if to gauge our intent
are we friend or foe
after all one can't be
too careful during this
scary month of November
as we pull away slowly
heads once again dip down
resuming their search for lunch


The comfort I give myself
is that though the road ahead
might well be rough filled
with troublesome potholes
but what if new exciting
 adventures await just ahead
over the crest of the next hill
there is comfort to be found in
looking at the world through
more hopeful positive eyes even
though the unknown lurks around
each corner the not so distant future
uncertain and unpredictable
maybe even a bit scary therefore
the comfort I give myself is to truly
focus on the here and now
enjoying the journey leaning
into the curves of everyday life


Inquisitive eyes
juvenile Bald Eagle
peers down at us
quietly sitting
posing endlessly
suddenly huge wings
unfurl.............he sails away


Autumn splendor adorns
our small creek
reeds painted in rich colors
replenished water now
once again reflects
beauty at it's banks and
movement of the sky above
season's wheel turning once again


Looking across the fields
old silo stands tall
it's former use long obsolete
yet still it serves
providing a perfect home
a fig tree lives in it's heart
planted by birds long ago
providing food and shelter
nature's time passages
working in perfect harmony


Over two decades
this view has enriched
our rural lives
eyes free to roam
over wide open spaces
nourishing our souls
thinking back when
our busy city lives
were frantic stressful
trying to stay ahead
though the move was
sooner than planned
we learned this was
what we needed all along


Saw two handsome crows today
swooping across the road
then perching.....deep in thought


***


There...movement in the grass
swift flash comes and goes
eyes focused now scanning again
spotting handsome trickster
stalking his breakfast
peering into the tall grass
suddenly diving head first
bushy tail and legs aloft
some unlucky wee beastie
surely stuck up his head
blissfully unaware that today
he was greeting his last morning



***


Large plates were filled
wine tasted divine
savored all at dinner time
our timing was perfect
not too terribly late
our stomachs are full
think dessert has to wait
maybe a bit later
we'll savor that too
for now we are happy
Happy Thanksgiving To You

***

Strange dreams are plaguing
me in the night lately
odd discordant flashes
myself sitting at a table
suddenly a scowling orange face
pushes through the crowd
he settles heavily oozing anger
much too near for comfort
demanding whining bullying
resisting with all my might
thankfully surfacing in time
heart pounding but safely awake
this morning again stumbling
from my bed more odd dreams
strangers invading our land
demanding we leave our home
babbling about eminent domain
telling us everything here
will be torn down needed for
important government doings
trucks pull in we're lost
where will we go this is all
we have to our name that and
our dogs and cats now homeless
frantic I toss and turn sheets
twisted tightly then waking
realizing it was just a dream
took an hour shaking that
realistic nightmare because
no matter how hard we try
our current reality will not
rest it pushes itself rudely
into our deepest subconscience
to be visited and dissected
while we rest ever more uneasily
never knowing....what comes next?



Tonight's celestial miracle
looking skyward
bedazzled by a brocade sky