MARCH 2020

No gentle zephyr

fierce cold north wind rising

plum blossom blizzard

***

Graceful dance

twisting and turning slim cypress

welcome March

Already bees arrive

crowded around the old bowl

sipping deeply

Hearty survivors

rising from the nearly dead

Moonstruck

Dusky rose caterpillars

thick as my thumb

bursting impatiently

first pale blossoms emerge

bees will hum a song of praise

Second golden wave

rises shyly from the green

latecomer’s scent tendrils

drift on a gentle breeze

weaving through budding

branches~birds rejoice

this morning rain finally falls

gentle oh so gentle baptizing

all brave souls bursting into bloom

Love Lives On

She slipped away quietly

much too soon for those left behind

suddenly after weeks of drought

this morning even the heavens weep

may our loving memories of you

soothe aching broken hearts

bereft at this most grievous loss

beloved wife mother grandmother

dearest sister of the heart

may you rise high on angel wings

***

Last night I forgot to close the blinds

snuggled deep under the covers

falling asleep to the sound of rain

pounding heavily onto the roof

then waking to a light sky outside

rising ready to jump into a new day

but my clock showed only two am

gazing out I saw Luna peeked briefly

through veils of racing clouds

walking into the cool damp night

watching her play hide and seek

then returning to the warm house

stoking the still smoldering fire

back to life setting the clocks ahead

closing the blinds snuggling back

under the still warm covers to soon

woken by Ming’s plaintive cries

urgent whisker tickling head butting

prancing up and down on my pillow

WAKE UP......FEED ME....WAKE UP!!!

Paying homage to Luna

walking in her silvery light

robe clutched tightly

unable to resist her siren call

as she slowly sets in a mackerel sky

legs growing cold I dart back inside

but even here close to the warm fire

she peers through the narrow window

pale face glowing through the pine

then sinking behind tall spires of cypress

slipping slowly out of sight...moonstruck again

***

Self Isolation in Paradise
***
And yet life goes on
birds still sing their hearts out
bees gather at the edge of the bowl
resting and recharging while sipping water
doves coo woodpeckers hammer
hummingbirds squabble high pitched
squeaks of outrage in between sips
gray squirrel holds sunflower seeds
in tiny gray paws black eyes shining
Wisteria spills like lavender lace over
the small rustic gate to the garden
first roses unfurl their velvety petals
fragrant white lilac glows at twilight
as if nothing is amiss~because life goes on

***

How as women our brain so often lies to us
we’re not pretty enough young enough
seems like the lies just go endlessly on and on
looking back at pictures of myself
when I was young but thought myself ugly
now I see an attractive young woman
looking back at me and I am saddened
because I believed my brain’s message
that I was not and would never be enough
now as I look in the mirror growing old
wrinkles slowly changing everything
silver strands weaving through dark hair
wishing I would have loved myself more
back then when I was young....time flies
why waste it on worrying about an image
distorted by the ramblings of the inner voice

***

Native Flute gentle sounds
streaming from the little Bose
Petey dozes quietly now
hyperactivity finally at rest
music soothing the nervous beast

Warm bowl of comfort
on a cold comfort morning
afraid of the morning news

Bowing her head
kissed by a cruel late frost
crunchy petals
now weeping tiny tears
hoping the the sun will revive her

This morning’s frozen tulip......Warrior Queen!
Heart open wide
ready to bask
her moment in the sun