when it rains

i'm not ready this year for the silver drops

caught between a summer to forget and

falling into a complicated tomorrow

all the dying that wells up like puddles

between the muddy tracks of life lived

without enough jars to hold the dreams

it's pouring down whatever i think so i

simply listen to the splash as shards

today's arrows attacking what was

screaming what is rather than could be

i pull the covers up almost over my head

is this crazy world really what has come

does a graceful way to tap out remain

or must i find a way to dig in damp soil

take the present tense and make it new

no reserves no retreats no regrets

a new level of living beyond skin-deep

how it tears the blood to find the way

each wet splash reminds me that it comes

watering the ground bringing change

death rearranges in the dark but life will come

if i can find the hope to not remain alone

feverish

everything is too bright and loud

as i wrap my shawl closer and shiver

sweat pours down my side

in my brain it feels like fireworks

small blood vessels snapping in defeat

as the virus plows through my body

leaving destruction in its wake

i close my eyes and embrace oblivion

the only place i can escape the scourge

temporarily the day reminds me

as i wake to the energy bank depleted

trapped in skin tingling at the air

forcing myself to eat, stay awake

until i can find the dark quiet again

hindsight

at just this moment a light comes at once 

bursting and soft from the corner of my eye 

obstructing my view and between yesterday 

and always i can see right now with clarity 

beyond tomorrow with all the what ifs and 

maybes floating down like the house of cards 

they are as in wonder i glimpse what lay down 

the fork in the road knowing the dark thorns of 

heartache and loss grew there as sure as if 

i had walked it though i chose the other way 

that i thought might be forsaken and at this 

same moment i find it was actually paved 

with roses and i find gratitude arising for 

the wounds i did receive that brought growth 

and no regrets and while i miss some of the 

yesterdays i know always is close and i wrap 

right now around me as i lift my hands to the light

June Gloom

the longest day and a year half over

a chill down my spine

like the echo of December wind

as hopes become dreams

help my unbelief

the wet blanket of marine air

dampening activity

shutting summer down

so many wishes blown out in joy

grumbling gratitude

rose petals and cottonwood down

a carpet of dying comfort

plentiful food tipping the scale

as guilt rides in on the insulin rush

my thoughts multiply

July crashes in with pyrotechnics

the beginning of the end in denial

distracted by a kaleidoscope of colour

until the gloom of June fades

like a cloud of witnesses

gazing into a blue sky of forgetfulness 

the light intoxicates with clarity

an inexorable change like the grim reaper

rides on the smell of woodsmoke

remember me

ningún espacio

entre tu y yo no hay nada

suspirar espirar motas de piel muerta

pero tengo dificultades de cruzar

si pudieras ver a través de mi cara

con todo el agua bajo el puente

por un momento cerrar los ojos

confíame

creer que podemos tocar los dedos

sin plexiglás a bloquear el paso

dejar todos los armas de discordia grande

cuidadosamente construido

encontrar harmonia y amor

donde no hay ningún pared

canta

a veces hay algo en ti y pienso

que veo esperanza en tu alma

quieres también silenciar las mentiras

destruir las fronteras con espinos

entrar en mi mundo como yo

ando con gracia en tuyo

cree

a great divide

between you and me there is nothing

inhaled exhaled gases dead skin

yet i struggle to bridge the divide

if you could but see past my face

with all the water under the bridge

for a moment close your eyes

hope

believe that we can touch fingers

with no plexiglass to bar the way

lay down all the carefully fashioned

weapons of mass discord

find instead harmony and love

where no walls divide us

sing

sometimes it flickers in you

behind your eyes i glimpse

you too long to stop the lies

deconstruct the barbed borders

step into my world as i

walk gracefully in yours

believe

relentless

I sat in a field and gazed at the sky

watching two birds fly way up high

the small bird dove again and again

fighting a battle he could not win

the hawk barely flinched and soared

the little one’s cries he clearly ignored

I marvelled at the relentless attack

as David flew at Goliath’s back

what desperation could there be

to make him try endlessly

with courage beyond his small size

he rent the heavens with his tries

did somewhere far below the blue

lie a nest with eggs of rosy hue

was this a fight of life or death

protecting those without a breath

risking all against a foe

with every ounce to make him go

while hidden in their little nest

the unborn chicks stayed at rest

just before his strength gave way

two starlings came to join the fray

then for a moment David was gone

somewhere to rest but not for long

with fresh zeal he fought once more

as Goliath continued to soar