December 31, 2017

New Year’s Eve
no call from my parents
the stars seem to drift


December 30, 2017

moonlight on snow
as a plow opens a path
we root for the shine


December 29, 2017

no sign of the fox
we imagine it curled up
nose tucked under tail


December 28, 2017

bitter cold
we hold our hands open
over the fire


December 27, 2017

our winter wishes
you turn to ask, will these stick?

… a few flakes of snow


December 26, 2017

tall trees
turned by the winter wind

into instruments


December 25, 2017

minus a ladder
we string our lights by flinging
starshine bridging the gap


December 24, 2017

unpredicted rain
in this stack of old Christmas cards
your handwriting


December 23, 2017

cold, dark and clear
this sky making way for stars
a memory returns


December 22, 2017

the shape of my dream
more elusive as I
try to remember


December 21, 2017

fingernail moon
keeping us company
on our cold walk home


December 20, 2017

in this longest night
somehow still hanging on
dry dead leaves


December 19, 2017

returning home
for a midwinter visit
everything seeming small


December 18, 2017

these long dark nights
perfect for spell casting

black on black on black


December 17, 2017

disappearing
along with yesterday’s snow
front yard bunny’s tracks


December 16, 2017

the audience stands
you slip your hand into mine
a tale ends and begins


December 15, 2017

tucked into burrows
talking about how cold it is
even the rabbits!


December 14, 2017

melted snow
how did I miss the signs
that you had moved on?


December 13, 2017

Geminid shower
the spark lingering in her
long after sunrise


December 12, 2017

bucking horses
and barking dogs

karma’s messengers


December 11, 2017

hoping our luck holds
another night walk
full of stories


December 10, 2017

head held high
the fox stops to taste the night
moonlit December

December 09, 2017

walking home alone
hoping the snow will stick
I practice your name


December 08, 2017

last night’s frost
waiting for a chance to shine
like me, like you


December 07, 2017

winter walk
your voice made visible
as you call my name


December 06, 2017

forced air heat
even with the lotion
my skin starts to crack


December 05, 2017

everything changes
at once more and less real
as we speak these words


December 04, 2017

December 03, 2017

the year’s brightest moon
putting it all in focus
your faith in me


December 02, 2017

an almost-full moon
lighting up tonight’s frost
why leave your arms?


December 01, 2017

all that was left
as the world fell away
the sound of your voice


November 30, 2017

new constellations
the lines connecting our stars
are curved


November 29, 2017

yard work
we leave the dead branches
the birds love so much


November 28, 2017

cold November night
even the scent of woodsmoke
warms us a little


November 27, 2017

more leaves on the ground
than there are left on the trees
she shakes her snow globe


November 26, 2017

arroyo near dusk
only the tips of the trees
still seeing sun


November 25, 2017

nails dark with loam —
stand slowly, breathe in
the last garden day


November 24, 2017

November 23, 2017



at the wood’s edge
a fox seems to flicker
in and out of sight


November 22, 2017

carrots and parsnips
earth and rain and cooler air
all of it welcome


November 21, 2017

a steady trickle
to keep the pipes from freezing
my daily haiku


November 20, 2017

raucous geese
cries bringing the sky closer
as they fly over


November 19, 2017

art show opening
every man eager to talk
about himself


November 18, 2017

the ash grove at night
moonlight peeking in
to see if we’ve gone


November 17, 2017

we tell it again
the story of our bedroom
and that one firefly


November 16, 2017

a deer-shaped darkness
running across the road ahead
November nights


November 15, 2017

banking the embers
that will be tomorrow’s fire
he tells me a story


November 14, 2017

gone for just a month
one droplet in a sky of rain
and still we feel it


for C.R., in memoriam


November 13, 2017

again and again
my thoughts drawn back to you
paths worn by walking


November 12, 2017





half-frozen puddles
carpeted with gingko leaves
winter kisses fall

November 11, 2017

lost in the fog
grandpa’s hesitation
as he makes the turn


November 10, 2017

river valley fog
we begin to doubt
that day will break through