snowflakes come to rest
on firs’ soft needles
swaying as a night breeze
turns them to glisten in starlight

sleeping eyes
smooth, even breath
lone plaintive song of an owl
lingers high in the hills

quiet adoration
as winter covers the forest
coolly glowing blue
with last light before dawn

covered in leaves
I still know
all I need
the blue, the eyes
where we began

learned in wine
sweet and old
tracks of clouds
bled into berries
folded into our cup

we spilled patterns
perfect in disarray
climbing our mountain bed
filled, we belong

spread our arms
opened eyes
pine and hemlock
behind windy cliffs
our echoes, joy

not to die
blown to life
conquered rivers
walking above fire
where we began

cannot abide joyless carousing

betwixt seas
of crackling repartee
and seams
of corduroy comfort
there lies a world of velvet
where believers can rub both sides
and still be free of judgement

shall we ask
for direction
or spin wildly
at the pace
of a champion plucker

will not swallow egregious descriptors

between pages
of forgotten pressed flowers
and nibbles
of leaking pen nibs
there can be stains
foretelling futures
without any past at all

it’s getting colder
and I’ve grown stiffer
playing Cats Cradle is too poignant
though I like the sound
of young laughter

near a fire, rocking
windy music flows
through window cracks
recalling another December
when I was still golden, not yet ripe

we sang to records
over and over
he taught me harmony
by being close
and how to dance
by placing my small feet on his

tree branches reach for my house
when wind pushes them at night
startling me to the present
while their shadows take me
to seek warm memories of cold seasons

consolation in swift thoughts
when all is still
like the pond in summer
stagnant, stifling
awaiting cleansing storm

moving felt right
with closed eyes
leaping across cuts in the earth
thirsty for rain
tired of watching reeds stand guard
willing them to bend, sway

peace in fought-for breath
being quiet
like the creek feeding the river
rolling, reeling
avowing sated spirit