2003:1
valley fog:
out of it
geese in formation
bright autumn day
the bus driver yells at me
PAY ATTENTION!
our turn
to stand here-
falls overlook
a key in the pocket
the coat
no longer fits
warehouse district-
a late afternoon cloud
spreads
long grocery line
the modest excitement
of my thoughts
late night bus-
a light on
in the fare box
jogging
just past the church
I clean my glasses
late afternoon sun
noisy blackbirds swarm
the transformer
a few floors down
in another building
someone else looks out
my son sniffs
the football-
"is it really pigskin?"
the crowd presses
to look in-
zen garden
extended goodbye
their paved driveway
buckled by roots
- for Karen Montner-Silverman
full moon
a coffee can of pennies
holds the door open
mower won't start
busy as a bee
a bee
Christmas eve
in her pajamas all day
the youngest one
from room to room
on the Clue Board
a tiny spider
as the spider goes
down the drain
a second thought
2003:2
spring wind-
the kid in the neighborhood
has a new whistle
March rain-
within the red wine
a nap in my chair
always takes his time
the custodian watches
the floor dry
abandoned lot-
chocolate milk carton
bleached white
alone
in the middle of a crowd
someone I knew
we know by the degree
he teases his sister-
all better now
the load tied down-
her painted toe nails
on the dashboard
just arrived-
their dog sniffs
our tires
class in the forest
they all look up
to the trees
reading into it
as much as I can
my life
improving
my handwriting
the high quality paper
in the middle
of some construction
a lilac blooms
railroad crossing
an old man
waves at the train
Discovery channel-
an older male vanquished
heads for the hills
straight out
of a dream
another day
steady rain
a pickle
in the parking lot
the dates
on the coins
I give up...
zoo safari trail...
ant caravans travel
the railing
2004:1
standing here just watching
the spring sun sparkle
on the water
and what is it they say about
living life to the fullest
cell phones
they find each other
in the mall
between bites
from the apples
his stare....
the finished letter
in the envelope...
taken out again
Veteran's Day
the normal route
past the cemetery
picture window
in all that white
a cardinal
flea market-
a Rubik's cube
already solved
where I sit
on my usual bench
remains of a nut
a little tree-
not enough shade
to sit in
lingering in bed
the ceiling
has no answers
framed photo-
the three of us
close back then
under my breath
"oh boy"
sitting down for lunch
an old oak
on a hairpin turn
dark scarlet
autumn colors-
how assertive
she becomes
I choose one-
a roomful of chairs
without people
snowfall
my daughter asks where
we are going...
soft spoken-
on her windowsill
more snow
first snow gone-
this steady need
to practice
alone with the cat
the look between us
held awhile...
potluck luncheon-
a yellow jacket cleans
its antennae
2004:2
long conversation...
through different windows
the sky
having brushed off
several small ants
an extra large one...
loud storm
I think of
our roofer
spring sun
good enough
right where I am
mid day
my son's bear hug
still with me
for lunch
looking for an empty room
room after room
our daughter tells us:
let the listing goldfish
live as long as it can
taking me back...
water laps gently
at the shore
old farm house-
the pitch of the
patterned linoleum
our child
who will not go to sleep-
sheep on her pajamas
my wife removes
the parakeet's mirror
for awhile...
left and right
he follows the way
of his kicked stone
without any music
I catch myself
tapping in time
spring in the air
so many false starts
in my heart
to start the day
her slipper sounds
too fast
on hold...
branches in the window
wave wildly
empty classroom
windows open
to summer
2005:1
sweet corn on the cob
thinking of my old
typewriter
gray morning-
a workman with a fancy watch
mixes mortar
one short chapter-
I move the lawn chair
to reclaim some sun
just oatmeal
the waitress says
"enjoy"
before I pick up the nickel
a rain drop
on Jefferson's head
her tossed jacket
another place
for the cat
my arm snagged-
a good look at
the wild rose
fall colors
in the lake-
one thought after another
pawn shop
guitars and guns
lined up
bike ride
as fast as I go
the moon on the water
crows jabber
at daybreak-
if that were all
cross country skiing...
twenty-two falls
her big brother's count
snow falling
I read myself
to sleep
meditation...
i remember I left
the lights on
my wife asks
if she should feel sorry for me
"I've got it covered"
her voice-
flake by flake collects
on a twig
big test day
she scrambles an extra egg
for his breakfast
outside
in the dark
I let my imagination go
dying light
at the corner of the shed
chickens peck away
2005:2
hunting four leaf clovers
students discuss
their childhoods
in the car singing
until I'm passed
and seen...
my mistakes-
no matter how many
coats of paint
spring air-
bumping into someone
I thought was dead
spring rain-
the cat in the window
washes its face
spring sun-
making a list
of what makes me happy
illuminated clouds-
a store for sale
way out here
brilliant spring
the ambulance passes
quietly
Valentine's Day-
I forget to get
the garbage out
last sandwich
from the loaf
the two ends
relatives set to visit
so many cobwebs
to remove
resting in the shade
an elderly man sits
on a gravestone
the river
full of ice
broken free...
happiness...
a child I don't know
waving at me
exam week
she lies face up
in the rain
a dime on the walk
a stranger
beats me to it
our two loudest
on vacation
in the same week
spring twilight
a young couple play badminton
without a net
sun pops out
a construction worker
breaks into song
2006:1
day's end
rinsing the fish
in tap water
so many years
to remember...
I sit up straight
she turns down
my favorite music...
plays recorder for me
daybreak-
the spider centered
in its web
in my room
just thinking...
do not disturb
doubting myself...
but he looked too good
to need a quarter
night train-
part of myself reflected
in thought
looking busy
as my wife
pulls in
on the windowsill
her first tooth
without the tooth fairy
in a hollow
at the base of the trunk
a seedling
quiet part...
out loud a little one asks
"when will it end?"
first game
doing her best
to avoid the ball
a crow
circling like a hawk
but it is a crow
in the dumpster
potted plants
take the rain
2006:2
stand of tall trees-
not sure what
I'm turning into
dinner time-
each night
a fallen hero
Father Leo
two seats down the pew
doing a puzzle
winter wind
the voice of one tree
after another
walking alone...
a submerged log
comes to light
lined
with plump rain drops
the clothesline
sitting alone...
her second time through
the newspaper
the mourning dove
lowers itself
to take off...
blue sky-
nothing constructive
to offer
moments into
my music
the vacuum cleaner
dandelions-
I give someone
easy directions
behind the wheel-
yet another of his
personalities
last day of school-
she tells me there was nothing
more to learn
in the garden
right by St. Francis
the woodchuck hole
so many books
I can't find
one
quickly
after the artery scan
a Danish
the day lilies-
some have crossed
the road
afternoon sun
a chef naps
at one of the tables
Sunday morning-
a brook sparkles
out of the hills
2007:1
strip mall-
the shimmer of leaves
on a new tree
muffler shop
a man managing
his cough
in our doorway
a man reads to me
a bible passage
beginning late...
the under attended
concert
morning sun
just a plain paper bag
with frost
evening star-
the horizon
of my childhood
walking the tracks
my thoughts
go nowhere
near zero-
just rabbits
and crows
the cashier
holds another large bill
up to the light
water
from the flower vase
returned
to the garden
unmarked grave-
a chicken
named Sunflower
mixed blessing
my best critic
at home
warm winter day-
our dog squints
for a scent
old friends talk-
each holding
car keys
geese
in the deep bowl of sky
salmon clouds
breakdown lane
plastered
with political stickers
my wife catches me
picking from our trash
again
overwintering
in the hay wagon
scarecrow
dining room
next to my wife's chair
her dog at attention
2007:2
construction site-
folks gathered around
the newborn
those were the days...
she'd meet me halfway
from work
flurries...
a truck piled high
with hay
too faint
for my son to see
a little used trail
light rain...
a sense of trust
along the way
trying to figure
how to spend it...
a little free time
priceless-
a poor night's sleep
in the tent
sun comes out...
the walk home
with my shadow
full of dirt
a dump truck waits
for her to cross
summer-
seeing more
of her
flower garden
where she buries
the goldfish
pleasant forecast-
my wife announces
her plan
so many things
I need to do
alone
wasting not
a moment
spring peepers
urologist's office-
a framed photograph
of the falls
the place emptied...
a spring breeze
blows through
in the dark
seeing my flashlight batteries
dying
a week before he died-
new glasses
for distance
just in case-
weighing myself again
after the shower
late day sun-
at the edge of the party
everyone aglow
2008:1
