from small stone to poetry

alone on a mountain top
incandescent beauty surrounds silence
a moment with eternity to contemplate the miracle of life
and why I have my place in it


3:55 a.m.
[2012.22.2...a]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



no sound,
no music disturbs the heights 
White Eagle, keeper of my spirit
seeks
quiet meditation here

alone on a mountain top
incandescent beauty
surrounds
this silence, a moment
with eternity
to contemplate the miracle
of life, why
I have my place in it

zenith illuminates
the lands below us
we are two specks, twin shadows
among a myriad of others
I awake from introspection's charm
and soar
to embrace myself
where White Eagle left
my upright reflection
in the lake
below
my place is two-fold:
to be the horizon
to observe life's paths
towards the heavens


in the flash of a dream
[2012.22.2...b]

a home is first a puzzle

yesterday, snow melted upon an L-shaped concrete slab
today a pre-fabricated wood house has sprouted from a huge truck blocking the street, a crane to lift puzzle pieces one after the other into the waiting arms of four human workers
soon new neighbors will claim their home


a home is first a puzzle
[2012.14.2...a]

...content with these offerings...

complete silence, calm reigns
the furnace has stopped its incessant rumbling, the cat sleeps
my breath has no music
thoughts pass like snow-filled clouds, unbursting
my words lack synonyms, I am content with these offerings
a single chirp -- a sparrow -- the others have gone elsewhere


...content with these offerings...
[2012.13.2...a]

morning walk

going south I encounter the shadows of trees and lampposts; elongated and prostrate, they reach for the northern light
my forward pace crosses their static wait
I want to reassure them it's not much warmer where I go

I turn east, almost parallel with my own shadow
ahead of me, he reassures me of the way to our hearth


morning walk
[2011.12.2...a]

change

suddenly, he adds a hint of vibrato, then a subtle crescendo
and a long drawn-out note becomes music


change
[2012.11.2...a]

to greet the world

a Valentine welcome
at the local flower shop: a bed of colorful rose petals replace the doormat...


to greet the world
[2012.10.2...a]

held hostage

cold arctic wind sweeps through my leather coat
wields sure paths between fur hats and wool scarves and tender skin
seeps cracked blue hypnosis into my gloves
this winter demon blows fine particles of sub-zero drafts rolling between thin windows and ill-fitting wood frames
he holds warmth as a hostage in a few hours' bright sunlight

even icicles weather quietly on my heart and soul


held hostage
[2012.9.2...a]

touching fairy tales

behind these tears
is a lost love I only dream
one that leaves my heart bleeding, pierced and broken by a chagrin I have never held close
I am still a frog waiting for a soul who sees a prince in my eyes
and allows my heart to blossom beyond these tears


touching fairy tales 
[2012.8.2...b]

winter movements

my eye catches white
mosaics of ice patches glitter on a sea of asphalt 
puffs of white smoke from chimney tops create silent, modern ballet  


winter movements
[2012.7.2...a]

morning exercise

fabric softener for sore hands:
Haydn Sonata in A-flat
supple, delicate, harmonious


morning exercise
[2012.6.2...a]

first fall

I waited in yesterday's sunlight
for snow break
this morning it falls patiently, calmly
transforming bleak winter landscapes
into a miracle of purity


first fall
[2012.5.2...a]

mealtime

in an hour the wild bird grapevine
will tweet that on the top floor balcony where the sun does not shine
the feeders are filled...
at the same moment, watching their feathered displays
I will enjoy my noon-time meal  


mealtime
[2012.3.2...a]

movement

sparrows and tits fight for a place at the feeder in a complicated aerial ballet
behind the window, one cat keeps time with a swishing tail


movement
[2012.2.2...a]

boxed sunlight

bright winter sunlight,
a box of fine Belgian chocolates
companions for warmth


boxed sunlight
[2012.1.2...a]