hours after the rain

irises still seeming drenched —

I reach back for you

first bird of the day

still sounding tentative —

sing with abandon!

stuck at the top

of the swimming pool steps —

early season chill

behind the clouds

a full moon we cannot see —

quiet anniversary

we return again

(rain-laden locust blossoms)

to the old stories

longer days —

he calls me outside to watch

his new skateboard tricks

birds at first light

unspooling their songs —

watching my girl sleep

surprised at bedtime

by the taste of my own salt —

first warm days

one iris

in the morning —

eight when I got home

every bit of string

suddenly in her sights —

nesting oriole

mid-spring morning —

kitchen cupboards finally

empty of ants

Sunday school —

we stop to check the nest

for signs of hatching

hanging on —

azalea petals

in the rain

not satisfied —

the bird starts her song

all over again

a tiny flicker —

even the fireflies 

start out smaller!

through evening rain

birds call out across the field:

yes, still here, still here

we, too, bend lower

as rain has bowed the branches —

all this giving in

watching you frame

the picture I didn’t see —

peonies and mint

our nightly walk

slipped in between two downpours —

the moon, too

all the little street streams

go looking for each other —

brunch with my parents

late summer sky

stars talking amongst themselves —

we can almost hear

heat lightning

on the far side of town —

you walk towards me

out of the darkness

white azaleas —

you talk in your sleep

one tulip

of every color —

my neighbor’s rainbow

this spring breeze

giving the clouds in the lake

a good stirring

a pollen blanket

flung out over everything —

green on green on green

comparing notes

on all the wisteria

up and down the block

every new blossom —

memories of your hand

cupping my face

buds near to bursting

branch tips trembling in the wind —

tears I should have cried

pear trees

busy converting spring sun

into petals

end of a long day —

our dog sits by the table

and sways in her sleep