“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” said Charles Dickens. Actually he only wrote it. Dirk Bogarde, my favorite Sidney Carton, said it with eyes shining in the dark. Words reduced to threads at the edge of a frayed cliche. Being able to hold thoughts in my hand for a while as they dribble down the length of my fingers, to land drip sandcastle upright as words on paper. It took forever to learn, but I have no regrets. If only words could cure the world as easily as pull the wool over our eyes. If widdershins could disperse oil spills or brillig or gyre could hoist a lance to run neatly through the heart of hate. That kind of thing. Words for the worst of times.
Category Archives: poetry
Treescape
The wolf throws her head back to howl
rising out of crystal spikes and mimic trees
a night when even lynx furred feet
will freeze on snow
glass visited in the dark by shapes the woods hurl
quick half life images for the next morning
with one of them shouting at the sky
First look
A morning pink comet
streaks the sky from left to right
the sun still floating up
the mountain’s eastern ridge
reaches up to slit the tail
its beam sharp enough
to cut through falling silk
Haiku for today
Late afternoon light
golden beech leaves almost turned
lantern lights the woods
Insistent messenger
A mourning dove in my apple tree
looks through the window
its message meant to prod
sun shrinks as the cold returns
woods maple tops spike leafless now
bronze oaks and candle beech stand guard
water lilies sink into the pond again
a scooped out moon brings frost
bears already denned up the hill
not quite past time for seeds but hurry
or jays will bring their beaks
Haiku for a Nor’easter Tuesday
Storm winds come in waves
bear gong singing fast and loose
there are still some leaves
Haiku for a Friday morning
Summer birds have flown
cold weather sleep calls to bears
almost feeder time
A kiss when it’s clear
I was convinced she would never leave
even though the truth of it
ran alongside faster
as she slowed
in the end a quiet moment
took the comfort of her large dog self
and tucked it in the sky
now her gaze is a soft kiss on clear nights
when the stars are watching
________________________________
For my Newfie Aggie
July 23 2009 – August 28, 2021
Haiku for a fall night
Hummingbirds are gone
morning doves wait in the wings
gratitude for friends
Quiet morning
As the day warms
the roof is smoking off last night’s wet
my dog lies paws crossed
at the screen door
the small world needs watching
Haiku for a sunny morning
Morning has brought friends
their presence a perfect gift
the leaves are turning
Recognition
even with no voice
even choked on tears
even with a stuttered soul
even though the wind now bars escape
even wearing sunless winter rime
even when my body cools its farewell
I will know you by your chosen stars
Life With Horace 