cold Christmas day
from the winding country road
the shiver of sleigh bells

through the frosted window
the woodstove's faint glow

this ancient land . . .
scent of fish upon the spit
a distant drum beating

between fallen stones
the flick of a snake's tongue

light streaming
to the slumped strawman
. . . orange moon

beyond the barbed wire
a lone coyote's howl

breaking the silence
a crow settles
on the power line

bright sparks
as he brushes my dark hair

dimly silhouetted
on the paper screen
his cupped hands

little sisters
taste each other's ice-cream cone

wet kisses
cover her face
the new puppy

a different world
through this flecked black veil

unfolding dreams
a night-blooming cereus
on the moonlit deck

from the evening pond
throaty echoes

unlit cave
her smile
disappears

goosebumps everywhere -
David Copperfield

wire thin
tiny fingers weaving
forget-me-nots

Grandma shuffles to the door
- my May basket

from a neighbor's house,
pink insulation tuft
the raven's beak

on the campaign poster
a graffiti artist at work

her small pink tongue
at the corner of her mouth -
cutting a paper doll

father and son
not of the same cloth

now smooth and clean
the old junkyard
. . . heavy snow

skiing on Main Street
in jacket and tie

he endures
the Saturday night crowd
- famous Greek cheesecake

alone at last
with his childhood sweetheart

neglected grave
outside the cemetery fence
we leave fresh cedar twigs

the yellow ribbon
- her tear-streaked face

crescent moon . . .
i stay September chill
with a warm croissant

no turkey for Thanksgiving
aboard the Orient Express

wind blown leaves
at the back door
a stray cat's cry

suitcases packed
son hugs me one more time

traffic jam -
a tank truck
spilling milk

old-timer's constant smile
- new dentures

cracked clay
at the edge of the pond
dandelions in bloom

after heavy rains
the double rainbow

December 2, 1997 - March 2, 1999