Poem in the bush

cracked corn in the hand -
there in the bush -
quailish, syllables scrabble.

news from a small town 24, December 2012

Friendly things

It would be friendly to
show up on time, to
say what you mean, to
pop up like a surprise gift
or something exotic,
to forgive lateness, to
expect the best long before
t’other shows up; to
hand out love like lollipops. It would be friendly to
notice what begs noticing,
to say the right thing, right off,
to magically evoke
smiles from tears, to
be seen fully before ever
having to confess.

news from a small town 23, December 2012

In the company of dirty horses

the barn sighs, as ever, grain rattles
in the bin when the creaky old top
tips open.  a flake of hay, some
designer horse vitamins, a splash
of apple cider vinegar, the slam
of a gate and the sough of the wind
and there around the corner, sliding
in mud comes the little mare; I could
have sworn she was black and glossy
but that was September. winter now

news from a small town 23, November 2012

Winter food prep

it’s baking-stewing 
time, the time
of settling into 
any new season
the time of giving, of
letting go, of ice
on the window
of  boiling down 
to the deepest reduction
of cooking up 
whatever comes next


news from a small town 22, November 2012

Pachelbel’s sling shot

It’s a silent day and no death to report.
Even in the Big Apple no one “slain,
slashed or murdered” in 24 hours.
Pachelbel lofts a few notes: they
land peacefully. I’m told it is a miracle.
And in the woods for all I know
every raptor and carnivore
has declined to dine. Pachelbel lofts
a few notes: they land peacefully.
It seems this day that every winter bird
simply took a day of rest, full of old seeds.
Pachelbel lofts a few notes: they land
peacefully. In the news, there’s
plenty of “ready, aim” but blessedly,
no “fire.”  Pachelbel lofts a few notes:
they land peacefully. In short,
no animals were harmed ,
no people hurt, no hearts broken
in the making of this poem.  Pachelbel
lofts a few notes:  they land peacefully.


news from a small town 21, November 2012

Thirty seven degrees, fresh quail tracks

it's show off time - those black hooves
crusted in goosh skid through mud.nose high the mare snorts twice ... and
there's the buck! and she takes off.
 we direct your attention to the far side of the arena.
time now for the entr'acte of gallop or trotting in circles.

today's the break between cold and colder,
before feeding time, after the side show of seven deer.


news from a small town 20, November 2012