Olympic trials —
watching the athletes' faces
as the records fall

hot humid days
inviting us to make
the easy mistakes

backyard birthday —
the sun visits each of us
in turn

sing a quiet song
try to water tomatoes
back to life

fireflies unaware
that they're also attracting
humans

late night watering —
we try to give our garden
reason to hope

indigo bunting —
singing away as I try
to show you where to look

low tide by the pier
water running off the sand
out beyond forever

dangerous heat wave —
my mother promises to shop
while the sun is low

too much moonlight
for a good look at the stars —
still, we know they're there

Summer Solstice —
we reapply our sunscreen
and head back outside

removing "stranger"
as a possibility —
dykes waving back

adjusting to walking
wherever and however —
Provincetown in June

waxing gibbous moon —
fledgling tree swallows 
opening wide

memories and stars
(there used to be more fireflies)
brighter at the edges

battles everywhere —
we encircle the garden
with wire

Flag Day —
we count on our rainbow
to repel zealots

my hand lingers
under the faucet waiting
for winter's cold water

mid-June —
strawberries giving way
to fireflies

young mockingbird
developing its repertoire —
robin, blue jay, hawk

eyes on the horizon —
everyone's mom slipping snacks
into the duffles

I'm my mother's heart
as my boy is mine
walking ahead of me

your steady breathing
turns out to be what I miss —
spring travel at night

we still have it, Dad
(the coasterboard you built us
when we bought our house)

so many bunnies
racing in the yard today —
Earth as copy machine

twin fawns in high grass —
only their playfulness
reveals them to us

putting back in
the parts I'd left out —
pride month practicing

seeking excuses
to spend time in the sun
or quote my father

a deer standing still
in the middle of the road —
the night slows way down