MAY 2019

Splendid May roses

heavy heads bowed gracefully

bee's nirvana

Shiny
red spheres
twinkled between branches
luscious burst of flavor
TOMATOES

Silvery crescent
new again yet never growing old
bluelicious night

Slender agile body

dances in blossoms heart

wild bee delight

Pearlescent
shining moons
unfurl their gowns
heavenly scented balmy nights
Philadelphus

***
Looking into the mirror
gazing at my image
seeing a familiar stranger

Crinkled
rosé crepe
delicate yet strong
underestimated like most women
ROCKROSE

Beneath a haloed moon
night garden breathes
exhaling rain bruised honeysuckle
and snow philadelphus
greedily inhaling I savor the night

Caramel Flan rose
morphing from maiden
to mother to fading crone
such beauty at all of her stages
nature's lesson...embrace yourself!

Slipping in then out of sight
on this storm tossed night
Luna's celestial dance of veils

Seeking refuge from the storm
glittering jewels arrive
battle at the feeder ensues
high squeaks daring dives
delighted to offer them shelter

Heart of a rose
yearning to dive deep
tasting sweetness 

Sapphire goblets
sway in the breeze
hark..did you hear it
was that a fairy's sneeze??

Dainty Custard cups
dot the fading green
Mariposa lilies
more then we've ever seen
winter rains still offering gifts

Frothy skies
whipped into a frenzy
storm heralds

Delicate droplets
translucent spheres
tears of joy
savoring late May rains
celebration in living color

Out of the corner of my eye

sudden movement 

bright eyed spy peers at me

deep in the heart

of the big striped rose 

my pruning evidently 

disturbed his splendid solitude

Brushing against 

my cat-headed Salvia

her scent brings

with it instant memories

of a morning spend

sitting leisurely

basking in the morning sun

sipping Cafe Mocha

eating delectable pastries

celebrating Richard's birthday

just a few years ago

funny how a scent alone

can cause one to reminisce

bringing one right back to that moment

***

Scent of Patchouli

instant time travel

back to the early 70's

endless days spend

on Ibizan beaches

shimmering Med at my feet

listening to "Lady of the Island"

Unexpected gift

made my heart sing

dear Bear immortalized

who knew that some companies 

have such big generous hearts

APRIL 2019

"Shoes"

These days my feet no longer tolerate

or even fit into these burgundy satin shoes

but once upon a time with slimmer legs

and slender feet they did adorn my feet

worn with a matching satin dress they twinkled

their feet down a runway with me shaking

just a bit in them at first then gathering

confidence nearly strutting with a swirling turn

at the end looking coyly over my shoulder

almost like a little girl playing dress up 

alas now I stomp around in country shoes

clogs and sandals in summer wellies in winter

as I make my way through country chores

such sweet memories of days past yet truth

be told my more relaxed footwear and lifestyle

is really a much better fit all the way around

now my favorite thing..walking barefoot in grass

***

Wild yellow mustard

perched in a greening willow

sharp eyed hawk

***

Gaia is looking like a hippie chick

flanks dressed in smooth emerald velvet

embroidered with large patches 

of deep purple yellow and orange

you can almost hear her laugh out loud

close your eyes travel back in time

now open them again there she is

swirling in circles beating a tambourine

drumming in yet another colorful spring

Sutter Buttes rise above the fields

dark silhouette against a pearl gray sky

no dreaming spires here in this still

young land caught in the throes of growth

too many still clinging to their pioneer

roots no longer in tune with this ever

changing world moving forward relentlessly

with them or without them......time moves on

***

Pale lemony light
suddenly illuminates 
our garden glows

***

Seeing the poetry in simple everyday things
thankful for the blessing 
of this precious gift

They arrive on rays of sunshine
drifting in on a gentle breeze
playfully cavorting aerial ballet
in pairs they court and dance
then settle on blooming lilacs
eagerly sipping sweet nectar
wings open and closes gently
breath settles into their rhythm
breathing in and out looking up
through lush clusters of sweetly
scented blossoms into a blue sky
heartbeat slows......butterfly meditation

My muse finds me again
deep in the shadows
this sweet shining face
delicate pale pink
shimmering droplets
adorn her soft petals
mindful moment of peace

Translucent green leaflets
now slowly unfurl
Tilia awakens 

Clotted cream yellow rose 

takes me back 

memories of an afternoon

spend in an English garden

sipping tea eating fresh scones

lashings of clotted cream 

atop fresh strawberry jam

the stuff dreams are made of....

***

Pale lemony light

suddenly illuminates 

our garden glows

***

Seeing the poetry in simple everyday things

thankful for the blessing 

of this precious gift

Golden crystal globes

her guiding lights each night

old girl's bright beacon 

seeing eye aiding her vision

as she wanders out into

the silent night garden 

her path now clearly marked

Staunch guardian of these plains
weathering untold storms
season after season offering
deep shade for weary souls
on even the hottest days
on this glorious spring day
hosting flocks of chattering blackbirds
wild waves of wildflowers
spilling to the horizon as far as the eye can see

Pale morning moon
descends resting briefly
atop the Mulberry

Comb jelly cloud

above a pale morning moon

lazily drifting buzzards

***

Branches bend low

obedient to the wind 

graceful surrender

***

Once upon a time

there was a feelign of such 

blessedness our words

laid upon this "altar"

offerings by kindred spirits

journeying side by side

nearly pious in our devotion

to one another our offerings

greeted like wordy prayers

with open hearts holding

each other's tender secrets

alas as is often the case

crowds dwindled some taking

other paths now out of sight

though solitary by nature

still I miss seeing fellow travelers

walking together side by side

engaged in conversations

sometimes deep other times just

sharing brief moments of daily grace

holding each other close nurturing

these connections like a precious garden

sentimental fool that I am for don't 

all things change whether we are ready or not

MARCH 2019

Chilly pre-dawn

little house cold as a tomb

last night's fresh 

delicious cotton sheets

now a cool liability 

stepping out of bed 

carefully making my way

toward the long dead 

fire not even a glimmer

rain pounds on the roof

battle of winter vs spring

continues slowly balling 

up paper stacking kindling

in a neat criss cross pattern

striking a match scent of sulphur

lingers briefly touching

match to the towering stack

fierce crackles as tiny flames

climb from twig to twig

igniting ever larger pieces

delicious warmth now spreads

cast iron stove ticks eagerly

it's cold body now gathering

gently radiating much needed heat

outside battle of the seasons

continues as we gather around the hearth

Glowing moon memories still linger
late that night full Snow Moon
was unveiled during a fierce storm
slipping in and out of sight
peering through curtains of swift
racing clouds shimmering.....luminescent

Delicate blossoms
survivors of fierce storms
blessing for bees

Frilly eggyolk yellow
Daffodils bask in late afternoon rays
delicious shadow play

Calling all toast soldiers
to deploy deep into luscious hearts
dipping lush golden riches

Through sleep's silken veils
her silver light shimmers waking me
walking the damp night garden
she shyly slips in and out sight
wreathed in rainbowed layers
stepping across glistening puddles
gazing skyward as she journeys
not quite full yet but still magical
another winter storm approaches
defying spring's arrival tomorrow

Japonique morning moon
embraced by rising mists
sayonara blessing

Delicate satin petals
stripes and dots marking throat
broken but not defeated
her beauty still shines
held in a fairy sized goblet
minute bouquet worthy of a queen

FEBRUARY 2019

In the grip of deep dreams

paws dancing whiskers twitching

in hot pursuit of dragons

Silly M Elfje

***

Mizzle

meanders merrily

moving merging making

marvelous magnificent mesmerizing mouthwatering

MAGIC

Predawn sky

dark blue shimmer

adorned with smudged clouds

rooster crows announces morning

time to rise stepping into a brand new day

To the east Sol has risen

though no rays touch the tree tops

yet the deep dark sky now palest blue

adorned with skeins of cotton candy clouds

birds fly to and fro Blue Jay shrieks loudly

does he not know morning silence is golden

or does he truly relish his role as Lord of Chaos

Rain

stops suddenly

on pine branches

Rufous-sided Towhee glows brightly

LAGNIAPPE

Miniature emerald world
crystalline spheres
tremble in the breeze

Bravely unfurling
delicate pale rose hearts
defying winter

Perched up high
sharp yellow eyes watching
majestic predator
catching brief glimpses into
his world never ever grows old

Once again she graces the night
slowly gaining in girth
from maiden to mother then crone
some nights a clear crisp crescent
surrounded by star diamonds
on cloudy nights adrift in shifting
rainbowed nebula appearing briefly
then suddenly hidden from view once more
endless cycle repeating since the beginning of time

Looking out into the secret garden
where a sharp, cold wind
ruffles slender graceful branches
of the small silver leaved olive tree
swaying to and fro in the gusts
all the while I sit snug by the hearth
at the moment this is my smultronställe
yet already my mind is tugging
yearning for yet another special space
another place to settle into bliss
before long I will walk out the door
book bag in hand allowing the wind
to propel me to the north forty
where all is tranquil away from it all
green range lands dotted with cattle
sprawled to the far horizon resting my eyes
there I will settle snug in blankets
leaving everyday stresses and worries behind

***

Faint muffled sound
morning flights pierce fog
like pale silver arrows
to the east molten red gold
spills through winter bare oaks

Langniappe

Somedays I think in poems
while bending my back to the
most mundane of tasks
nothing profound mind you
nor especially good or
noteworthy but if I hurry
putting thoughts down swiftly
before they flee slipping
out of sight I can share this
sudden bounty our langniappe
this day pine and oak firewood
free for the picking up
sure to please our hungry woodstove
with the pile dwindled this surely is
the best of unexpected gifts
I scurry inside briefly to share
this unexpected bounty then
back outside loading the old wagon
while my partner is down the street
reloading Little Blue to the hilt
so off I go ready to roll my wagon
near the woodshed soon to be full again

***

Langniappe Part Two

Now time to confess sadly it appears
I am no mule after all at my advanced years
two wagons loaded one now neatly stacked
sadly it appears this is it for my back
knee also singing a sad song of woe
everything's aching even the big toe
still there's a rather good feeling in
having done my best maybe later
I'll rally ready to tackle the rest
for now it is leg up taking my ease
when the next load arrives notify me please

***

She stands on the shore
leaning into a wild wind
slyly tugging at her hair
staring out across the waves
looking longingly at infinity
she can't help but wonder
is this all there is this feeling of
being stranded on a desert island
all the while hearing voices
behind her... chattering laughing
yet she stands alone in her own world

***

Icy cold sphere
adorns the morning sky
deepest indigo strewn
with glittering diamonds

She stands on the shore
leaning into a wild wind
slyly tugging at her hair
staring out across the waves
looking longingly at infinity
she can't help but wonder
is this all there is this feeling of
being stranded on a desert island
all the while hearing voices
behind her... chattering laughing
yet she stands alone in her own world

LONGING

She's longing for her usually swift pace
carrying her from place to place
but for the moment the tide has gone out
ebb tide rules she gives in to the urge
her eyes closing slowly as she sinks into
waves of medicinal rest giving herself
permission to just go with the flow
soon enough the tide will turn she will rise
strong limbed once more standing tall
ready to embrace life fully with enthusiasm
for now she rests...dozing...dreaming...healing

***

Much like Luna
on a cloudy night
drifting in and out
of wakefulness now here
then gone again

***

Road Impressions

***
Everywhere as far as the eye can see
churning muddy creeks grow into lakes
greedily licking the knees of trees
nudging hives filled with sleeping bees
rice paddies swallow up whole roads
once dry creeks race along scratching
their foaming backs on the bellies
of beleaguered freeway underpasses
cattle graze standing on green islands
surrounded by ever rising muddy waters
rest stops full up leaving semis parked
on soft shoulders waiting out the storm
even off ramps are parking lots for now
flashing sign announced that ten miles
north of Redding the interstate is closed
due to heavy snow and white out conditions
here still the rain falls still the wind howls
still we push urgently ahead at day's end
eager to arrive home before the fall of night

***

Just after 4 am
stirring the fire back to life warm flames flicker
outside the sound of relentless rain
***
Trio of stones
tumbling from my mind
into yours


***
Toes reach for the hearth eagerly
like heat seeking missiles
Moonlight Sonata spills into room

Against all odds
enormous nest survived
bald eagle aboard
tending to the contents
high hopes for a new generation

Elegant storm survivor
cautiously opens her yellow heart
delicate tears tremble