a walk by our creek

after Thanksgiving dinner —

the ice just starting

Black Friday —

moving aside to let

an ambulance scream by

even in the dark

the geese calling out

as they fly over

I spread my fingers

wide to catch a falling leaf

but it slides on through

rainsong on the roof

and then the answering growl

of the basement pump

one feather —

slowing down the day with

its iridescence

heat inside and out —

a cup of hot chocolate

after the bonfire

just enough

to see the dark shapes of trees —

November moonlight

wheelie practice —

my job is telling him

how much air he gets

colder mornings —

the wrens surprised to see me

in the back yard

the sweet shock of warmth

in the midst of a cold night —

her kiss

(From Flickr, used via Creative Commons)

our morning test prep —

we head down to the bridge and

skip stones together

(in honor of C.D., on her birthday)

late-in-life swimmer —
so proud
of my flip turns

(image used via CreativeCommons)

brimming excitement —

we stand outside in our socks

to see the moon ring  

toasting pumpkin seeds

and remembering the friend

who taught me this trick

autumn winds —

amidst the clouds a glimpse

of the near-full moon

November nights —

suddenly the cold knows how

to pick any lock

braced against the cold

and feeling, all day,

driven on the wind

smiling

into my pillow

at the scent of snow

glimpse of the future —

he stands on the first step for

my welcome home hug

no less beautiful
for having been dropped to earth —
still-bright leaves

November dusk —
our candles seeming brighter
by the minute

one chasing squirrel
just a tail's length 
behind the other

brown sugar

melting into oatmeal —

magic every time

pumpkin carving —

in every kitchen

an anxious mother

so close overhead

I can hear their wings —

November geese

looking for socks,

feeling a yawn coming on —

shorter days

Quaker meeting —

this morning’s messages

from the year’s first fire

exclaiming over

the ladybug until we

lose it in the sun

gone before

we can even describe it —

late night fog