the night before the rain

the midnight moon

slings wide

its murky-colored bow

among thin clouds

above my head

neck craned back

I gape and blink

in the warm tickles of wind

wondering what dark promise

this full moon bears

the puppy pulls her leash

snuffles in the grass

 unconcerned

with heavenly matters 

Lost Melody

I opened my mouth
   to sing
 but only a wail
    rang out

a song
   too long held
 sours, it seems,
    fermenting
   inevitably
 into a scream

touch

this slender frame 
   cannot
      contain me


walls and miles 
   do not restrain
      my reaching 
             stretching
                   out
                 to gently touch
                       your heart


and I never return
unchanged.

once upon a time

it
is not.

it
never was.

how
then
do I feel
its loss?

  

September

there is an urgency
today
in the green
of the trees
behind my house

leaves so seriously
intent
on coloring
the cooling light
as it falls to the ground

as if they know
the nearness
of winter's
silver
silence

anointing

Wisteria falls

in lavender drops

from its feathery

treetop canopy.

The world stills –

        quiet

but for the patter

of fragrant petals

on my upturned face.

crash

          picking
through

            the
                     pieces

   scattered
                  on     the

       floor



        shattered
reason

           shimmering

                                   more

                 intriguing
                         than
           before
                          .