in the spring
we thought it would maybe last
a month or two

waiting out the year —
the Raritan’s muddy bank
tamped down by ducks

the small of my back
remembering the feeling
of your hand there

stay up with me
until we’re hungry again
until the moon sets

snow melt running
through the land to the lake —
we leave our tree up

 memorizing choices
before my glasses steam over —
bakery challenge

gibbous moon —
we hope the foxes will find
our leftover gift

gusting winter wind
against a steady furnace —
we’ve all taken sides

ducks on the lake
looking for ways to be alone —
late December

how quiet we were
trying not to wake the baby!
years gone swiftly by

tomorrow will bring
one more minute of daylight —
make a plan with me

each frozen puddle
a few seconds of ice time —
crows jeering overhead

winter morning walk —
all the sledding hills jeweled
with iced-over snow

snow transformed
into embodied sunlight —
melted, dripping gold

neighbors in synch —
we slice and lift up
wet snow in layers

yard birds getting in
a few calls back and forth
before the snow sticks

the field gone to seed —
will you come to me or
should I come to you?

explaining winter
he makes his fist the Earth
our laughter the sun

even the little dogwood
we just planted this spring
gets a string of lights

Christmas tree farm —

one field of tiny saplings

waiting their turn

songs my father played
when I was still a baby —
notes slipped of their words

black lives still matter —
she re-inks the letters
In our handmade sign

bringing down
the last of the sweetgum balls  —
winter's first snow

she teaches me the song
of the white-throated sparrow —
listening for spring

restless winter night —
the cold tightens its fist
as an owl looks on

holiday baking —
Oma’s notes to herself
guide me instead

cold December air —
starlight quenching a thirst
we didn’t know we had

startling the sparrows
tucked into the azaleas —
the sound of wings

dark-eyed junco
hopping along the fence —
common and yet not

whose wish prevails
when the turkey wishbone cracks
right down the middle?

first frost —
test results coming back
positive