front yard bunny

flicking her ears just so

as the rain begins

sparrows springing

from one low branch to the next —

chasing summer shade

cut flowers 

drying in the sun —

wisps of birthday wishes

morning evidence

of the storm we slept through —

flowers standing up

unwinding vines

to feel the branches spring free —

something in me lets go

after the sunset photo

a panicked sprint away from

the mosquito cloud

trees by the river

dangling their leaves

in reflected sky

just one more dive, Dad! 

trying to stay in the pool —

summer soundtrack

in the space 

between crows calling

the rain begins

front yard bunny

out here wilting

with the rest of us

the sound of moths

bouncing 

off the window screens

in the basement

escaping ferocious heat

we remember blizzards

queer women

seeking each other out —

mid-summer heat wave

the loneliness

of a single firefly —

waning moon heat wave

feeling my heart clench

with each crack of thunder —

flowers rejoicing

reading the map wrong

but getting home anyway —

second marriage

campfire by moonlight —

the girl at the next site over

likes my stories

waxing July moon —

memories of him bright enough

to cast a shadow

summer dusk waiting

for that last little brown bird

to finish its song

July afternoon —

at the crook of my elbow

an inchworm’s tickle

the children skip ahead —

for a moment the world

lifts with them

eyeing the horizon

but still heading back to shore —

kayak calculus

sun-dazzled pond

throwing its blues to the sky —

summer invocation

mourning doves at dusk

singing the sun to sleep —

our talk turns to parents

playing hide and seek

with a half moon in these pines —

stars choosing up sides

sparrows at the park

inching closer and closer —

hopping and hoping

twin fawns nursing all spots and wagging tails — new summer sunshine

Yes, it's that time of year again... we are heeding the call of the great outdoors! You can leave us messages in the comments below (although we probably won't read them until we get back), or, even better...

If you're reading this between July 7th and July 16th, here's your big chance to make our day at camp!

Call the North of Highland Camping Area office and ask the very nice folks there to leave us a note on the camp message board, which is also a big thrill. That number (good from July 7th through the 16th or so) is 508/ 487-1191, and office hours are pretty much all day with the exception of meal breaks from noon-1pm and again from 6-7pm. Folks who leave us messages go DIRECTLY to the top of my postcard-writing list. #JustSayin

(The message board at camp on a good day)

Even if you don't have a chance to send a message our way, we know we can count on you to send warm and sunny thoughts... right? And a special thanks to the excellent neighbors who are keeping watch on our little house until we get back.

(I'll still be writing at least one haiku each day,

but won't be able to post them while we're gone.

Watch this space for "haiku-palooza" 

once we return!)

late night watering —

vinca and moonshadow

drinking it in

independence day —

building a chosen family

when the first one fails

red-winged blackbird —

knowing our song sounds broken

and singing anyway

Photo: CountryMouse13, Flickr

new summer haircuts —

the girl I met at Pride

invites me home

finding the ocean

in a field of tall grass

on a windy day