four of King Henry's
six wives appear at the door —
Hallowe'en treats

my old hair color 
returned to me 
in a spray can

we see what we look for —
my mind fills in a bird where
there's only a leaf

cozy blanket —
I wake up to the sound 
of the heat coming on

the stag and I enter
a staring competition —
I need some antlers

when we gave up
and sat on a fallen log
the birds came to us

seven weeks of drought —
the stony bed of the creek
comes up for air

letting go at last —
the orchid I've been tending
on its own timeline

warm weather surprise —
the tickle on my hand
becomes a ladybug

we leave the leaves
in the yard where they belong —
blankets for the roots

after the game —
sore throats from yelling
as if they could hear

sugar maples
on fire in this
late afternoon sun

late night fight —
territorial foxes
yelling back and forth

another clear night —
a great blue heron flies
low over the lake

three years later
we can still see the scars
left by the cicadas

raccoons in the park
foraging for fallen pears —
near-full hunter moon

four new tires —
I take the corners faster
just to feel the grip

half the leaves down now —
we put our coats on hooks
where we can grab them

neighborhood potluck —
the big kids keep the small kids
out of trouble mostly

through the long morning
I stopped and sang to children
pocketing their smiles

old leather jacket —
National Coming Out Day
but everyone already knows

kids in strollers
holding leaves in their fists —
flags of autumn

Sarasota plan —
my cousin puts a crowbar
in the attic

first quarter moon —
a hurricane's shadow
crosses my heart

one of my students
came down with a high fever —
glad I'm still masking

up late on Sunday
even when we know better —
yawning in the forecast

small brown sidewalk leaf —
when is the last time
I saw a toad?

lying still enough
that the vultures slow down
for a second look

in between stars
I think I hear an old song —
protect each other

listening for crickets
before I close the curtains
for the night

pumpkin season —
the moose of Alaska
enjoy their new snacks