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
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
