dead leaves and petals —
every morning the sparrows
come looking for spring

lunar New Year —
the sound of cardinals checking
in on each other

thick and forceful wind —
I think of all the times
when no was needed

dark-eyed juncos
sketching their plans for the day —
the wind makes a change

who cooks for you? —
a pair of barred owls
map the forest shade

a break in the storm —
space for the urgent scratch of
pencil on paper

rain and more rain  —
seed catalogs offering
sun on every page

by the maple's root
a tiny stand of snowdrops —
who will tell them?

cherished tradition —
he sits beneath the coat hooks
in his cozy spot