Wednesday, January 30, 2013

A Boy and His Dog

No better friend than a dog
Can be found for a little country boy
She follows up and down
And all around - a special country joy! 

Lie against her while she sleeps
Pet her while she sits in the sun
Chase her. Try to catch her tail.
A happy bit of country fun!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Flowers are Good Medicine

While Mama was sick and lie abed
I brought bright flowers to her and said
"I hope you're better soon and fed,
Tended, mended, and back in good stead."

Monday, January 28, 2013

Shadows

Years of sunlight have
Warmed the rooms
Behind these windows
Played across them
With mottled shadows
Summer, winter, spring, fall
On these stones
Reflected the sky in
Warbled glass
Warmed walls
Years and years of sunlight
Sunlight and shadows
Moonlight and noonlight
Shadows

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Seagulls

Birds from the river
Swirl above the parking lot
Landing in the spaces among the cars
Crying out in demanding caws
Without signs they beg for handouts
"Will swoop for food!
Lost our jobs. Please help"

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Crape Mrytle

Spiny, spindly
Spiky spray,
Twisting, touching,
Turning twigs,
Sculpted of wood,
Painted in white watercolor
Accented with red-brown
Seed pods. 


Friday, January 25, 2013

Derelict House

Door, who passed through
Over your threshold?
Who went out in the early morning?
A farmer to milk his cow?
Who came home to eat at noon? 
The farmer from his fields?
The children from school?
Door, who latched you at night?
Who lit the oil lamp at the table?
What mother sat after rocking a baby to sleep
Knitting a warm hat, mending clothes, darning stockings?
Door, tell me your stories.
Tell me about your people.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Old Whitewashed Wall


Your bones and frame
Scarred and wrinkled with age,
Your hair, a few wisps of vine,
Your window frames
Eyesight darkened by strain
Where children once peeked out at morning
Watched rain fall  
Snowflakes tumbling
Daffodils blooming yellow in spring sunlight
Now your vision gone
Eyelids closed
Whitewashed wall.

Fence Post Vine

Honeysuckle vine?
Trumpet Creeper?
Where are your leaves?
Where are your blooms?
Where have your hummingbirds gone?
Take your rest.
Take your sleep.
Spring will be here soon enough,
And another busy summer of 
Wild tangled growing.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Berries

All along the fences 
Berries wave in the wind
Brightening the dismal landscape
Like holiday lights.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Little Girl's Games

Little girls
Play the same
No matter where
No matter when
Girls love dolls
Beads for necklaces 
 Bracelets
Baby doll beds
Fuzzy blankets
Little girls play 
Ever the same
Little girl games.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Jalynn

Like a little Blue jay
On the porch swing
She sits and sings
Swings and sings.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Josie Girl

Morning comes
Children are hungry
Happy 
Ready to play
How quickly
The mornings pass
How quickly little girls 
Grow up.
Savor the mornings.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Sunrise

The sun bounces 
Up before 
I am ready to rise.
Shouts in pink!
Red!
Orange!
Yellow!
Shouts:
"Wake up, world!
Wake up!"
Then dances on 
On its way,
On its daily trip
Across the blue.
Ready or not,
Morning comes on.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Petal Pushers

Petal-pushing sunshine
Winter lilies,
You have sipped green
From your stems
To your faces
Like children
Sipping soda 
Through 
Sturdy
Springy straws.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Grandpa

There's no one like the grandpa
The grandpa!
The grandpa!
Noone like the grandpa
The grandpa
Of mine!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Raindrops

After the rain
After the shower
Raindrops drip
Transparent light
From every twig


Monday, January 14, 2013

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Snow Birds

Meadowlark
Wearing his yellow vest
Stopping to take a rest
In the snow

Friday, January 11, 2013

Tulip Blossom

When she was a tiny girl
Her daddy called her 
"Two-lip Blossom"
She was fresh, bright, new
Soft, pink, precious, like a
Tulip blossom.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Windsinger

bamboo
hoo-hoo
ping-pong 
clink-clunk
rattle-tattle
tink-tonk
clitter-clatter
bamboo
windsong

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Sycamore

Sycamore
Reaching to the cold blue sky
Sycamore 
Shedding old bark, growing new
Sycamore
Sturdy, stable, strong
Sycamore

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Evergreen

Open at first frost
To empty yourself of
Precious seeds, 

Gifts to the waiting ground
Before rain and snow
Swells and sprouts

New works of art
In spring to grow
Children from the earth

Wooden sculpture of the 
Needle leafed tree.
Blue Jays sing

At the delicious chill
Of your art gallery
Treasure trove.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Passing Fancy

Among the dried and brittle stalks
Of summer's grass and weeds,
A goose down feather flutters; 
Caught in a harsh place
Dances to the wind's music
Dances
Dances

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Mullein

Fuzzy furry leaves
Soaking sunlight 
Across the winter pasture
Resting, feeding
Like so many woolly green lambs.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Metal

Rusted curl of metal
Binding wooden bundles
Rough, strong,
Like a weathered statue 
Flexing his arm muscles.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Winter Grass

Dry
Tipsy with seeds
Flying in howling winds
Resting on still cold afternoons
Leaning against
Barbed wire for support 
Waiting out winter.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Comfort Zone

Old dog sleeps
In her favorite porch chair
Snooze and snore
Curled up tight
Cozy and warm in the
Short sun of 
A January afternoon.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Oranges

Spheres of electric sunshine
Filled with golden sweetness
Sweet tartly sweet
Sweet tangy sweet!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Wood

Wood relives as paper bags
Forms flowers of sorts
Brown petals
Filled with pecans
Fruit of other trees
One harvest carrying another