a tree of starlings

urgently explaining

each to the other

moonlight so bright

it throws shadows in the dark —

so clear now, his flaws

sparrows, too

seeking a quiet place

out of the wind

his first physics test

with no grandfather to share

hard-won answers with

another season
another battle with ants —
first frost nowhere in sight

road-edge rivers

too wide today for jumping —

we take the long way

how like your kisses,

those first few drops of rain!

we hurry our steps

raccoon-tossed trash,

our garden in disarray —

let’s look at the moon!

he takes home a shirt
from his grandfather's closet —
leaves starting to fall

stumbling forward

eyes on the uneven ground

foraging for light

approaching full moon —

this world brimming with things

he would have liked

he once gave us

a snowday of our own —

early morning moon

your breath and mine
the only sounds as we try
to wake only each other

autumn passage —

from puddle to puddle

the moon follows me

no one alive now

remembers the questions

I asked at bedtime

good company

when you don’t want to talk —

crescent moon

caught by my headlights —
the flash of a frog’s legs
jumping to safety

mid-September —

all of summer dwindling to

just one firefly

we walk through the dark

past windows leaking light —

two shadows, touching

grateful surrender —

I let my eyes follow you

not caring who sees

subtle changes —

the fawns farther away now

their spots fading

steady gentle rain —

memories spilling over

the top of the cup

steady gentle rain —

memories spilling over

the top of the cup

trading stories —

our words the criss-crossed twigs

that keep the dark at bay

duck-under pushes

that felt like swing rocket boosts —

remembering Dad

trellis-climbing vines —

our bodies will know the way

without instruction

our front yard bunny

shows up in the neighbor’s yard —

thinning autumn grass

trees we planted

casting shade on the roof now —

he would have approved

cemetery fence

still keeping us out

for the time being

first days of autumn —

deep in the flower

just the bee’s tail

first morning alone —

straining to see the stars

she knows are still there