new colts in the field

learning what legs can do —

watch, Mama, watch!

the first warm day —

we and the birds

remember our songs

five days apart —

we fold into each other

creasing just so

coming back

to my childhood creekbed —

finding a fossil

sea lions

demonstrating

proper nap technique

greens

we had forgotten —

California, post-drought

a good day’s work —

pulling last year’s dead stalks

from the front garden

right on time

with tiny spring-loaded hooves —

the year’s first lamb

watching the waves

break and reform—

jetty seagulls

visiting cousins —

not so little

anymore

more rain

and the high clear notes

of the peepers’ song

missing the words

still laughing in the right spots —

Nana knows these stories

last night’s hole punch moon

replaced by a cloud-smudged glow —

my father, fading

preparing my heart

to be tender and green —

these tiny almost-leaves

for the first time —

forgetting my gloves

and not minding

sunshine in the lake —

how I feel when you tell me

your smile was for me

the sound of rain

dripping off the roof’s edge —

will frog songs be next?

showing love

in the way that they do —

dogwood trees in spring

a sleeping fox

not quite as tightly curled —

spring thaw

when I go home

to visit my childhood —

tall, sheltering trees

every day

a little more light —

birds sing the story

suddenly strewn

at the roots of the maple —

snowdrops!

rain from dawn to dark —

even the deer flick their tails

in annoyance

children with sticks

crouched at the road’s edge —

the call of a creek

winter sick day —

making the cream of wheat

my mother would have

rabbit tracks

in the snow turned to ice —

we keep falling through

dripping by the door —

everything we wore outside

as snow became rain

wet snow bending

every stalk and branch —

the nest-makers reconsider

his end-of-day greeting —

did we get any good mail?

my turn now to ask

another day —

more questions I would have asked

my father

pouring out

a full day’s worth of sunshine —

evening grosbeak

(inspired by https://twitter.com/ankinakatte/status/1101993120022126592)

we give him maps

and water and directions —

we watch him drive away