wrinkling time

It's been a while

Since I first saw

The hope you bring

The view you draw

I'm older now

The aches are more

It's hard to dream

Of what's in store

But something stirs

Within your eyes

All that could be

I long to try

Misshapen bent

But no mistake

Someone special

You say you'll take

Through many worlds

Each path a chance

I'll take one more

Learn one new dance

You take the lead

Show me the way

I'll follow true

To this new day

The secret wins

It keeps me strong

Love binds my heart

Where I belong

turning time

I sat outside your window 

and hoped the light would glow 

without a cry

life’s passing by

and like the day it goes 

through winter’s silent hours 

and spring’s precocious way

my heart has ached 

as if she’d break 

to know what you would say 

the zephyr warmed my face 

as summer ushered in 

long days of fun 

beneath the sun 

before fall rains begin 

each season keeps on passing 

like seaweed on the sea 

beneath the crash 

that’s roaring past 

my heart longs just to be 

I know it’s not forever 

as moments pass me by 

I’ll shed a tear

but stay right here 

you’ll someday heed my cry

the window near my head

will finally open wide 

I’ll see your face 

feel your embrace 

and know that peace inside 

so though the shade is down 

as nighttime follows day

incline your ear

and reappear 

to drive the dark away 

subtext

 a thousand words 

we paint a scene 

professing knowledge 

by other means 

than face to face 

one to another 

we’d rather not try

and keep our brother

who stands apart 

outside our touch 

because we fear

it’d be too much 

to let him close 

give him free choice 

the risky option 

to hear his voice 

and find he might 

think differently 

would rock the core

of you and me

so safe we stay

in our glass shell

and prattle on

the words we tell 

early blooms

each petal like a drop of blood 

floats gently on the surface 

rocking to a silent song 

in water’s soft embrace 

the edges brown as moments pass 

death steals the bright away 

and though the sun shines bravely on 

the sky begins to grey 

alighting on one rusting drop

a bumblebee reposes

until the weight tips the scales 

and the water overflows it

one by one through time and chance 

the liquid conquers all

‘til all that stays are memories 

of a blossom that did fall 

strings of lights

I come around a corner 

and see a house aglow 

the festive lights of gold and green 

a sudden joy bestow

Though dark may be the night 

and lost may seem the cause 

when all my plans lie in the dust 

demolished by their flaws 

A single flame can burn 

and keep despair at bay 

dispelling night with joyful light 

and speed me on my way 

I smile this time of year 

though clipped my wings may be 

the colours cheer my way so drear

and shine when I can’t see 

the journey’s end

From chilly grey Pacific waters the sand dollar emerged five weeks ago. Under sunny skies north of the 45th parallel it began its journey, riding long miles as summer gave way to autumn. It rode alongside rivers like the Snake cascading west, destined to join the vast sea it once called home, until it crested the great continental divide and saw the mighty Missouri and Mississippi flowing with others towards the sunrise. From dramatic rock outcroppings to endless rolling plains, it traversed the diverse land called United. Delving hundreds of feet underground it experienced the moist tunnels of the world’s longest cave system. Further on it climbed high in the Smokies and saw mile after mile of rolling green and blue mountains, so different from the snowcapped volcanic peaks near its coastal home. On a balmy October morning it finally embraced brilliant warm aqua waves, being swept out to the other shining sea in one final climactic moment—the poetic end of the journey of an imperfect sand dollar.

the mountains are calling

sometimes a picture cannot begin 

to capture the horizon 

to wrap a frame around the sky

and trap the colour of life 

growing green and dying golden 

the misty ridges from blue to distant grey

rippling into the future like waves upon the sea

warm dappled rays dancing on the skin 

the wind making tympanic music all around 

rocky trails lead to hidden vistas

with air so clear it makes the heart ache 

just to be is enough 

let go of all the questions that remain 

open wide arms outstretched in gratitude 

today the gift of breath

the moment ripe for second chances