now that we’re parents

we understand about naps

but cannot take one

fierce little snake

no matter how wide your mouth
you can’t scare us

standing egret

still for so long
I feel my pulse

grateful for the breeze

although for different reasons —

me and the bridge spiders

catching the drips  —

my last ice cream cone

of the summer

our almost teen

the coyotes on the hill —

everyone’s up late

anniversary —

lines from their favorite play

learned by heart

morning mud —

evidence of the rain

I slept right through

antique flea market —

turning over treasures

to check the tags

giving up at last —

the boxwood that seemed lovely

under all that snow

slow down, summer!

there’s still that whole field of corn

in need of picking

lake's edge

a hint of daybreak

becomes a promise

(This haiku was improved by a friendly suggestion from Grace Galton.)

the hiss of a swan

as you walk near her nest —

threat assessment

geese with their one note —

old aunts harping on

about our manners

sweet distraction —

the bright sound of finches

just out of sight

counting hops and skips —

let's see how long we can keep

these stones from sinking

benediction —

we stay up to hear the owl

one more time

having too much fun

to tell the story of it —

short postcard from camp

I curse the crows —

they slow-flap to the next tree

humoring me

paddling out

as the rest of us duck for cover —

geese in the rain

we swerve from the road,

grind to a stop at the news —

hijacked hearts


(RIP Robin Williams)

this lengthening hike —

rocks slipping underfoot

as we try to climb



(RIP Mike Brown)

summer heat —

trying to slow my steps to you

and failing

summer camp weeks —

we call from room to room,

mapping the quiet

early wake up call —

two woodpeckers haggling

over prime eave spots  

unclouded moon —
after a day of wandering,
the turn towards home

Photo: Churl Han on Flickr

Photo by Evan Leeson on Flickr

Photo by Dave Herholz on Flickr

Photo by Rosa Dik on Flickr

    Photo: Jason Mrachina of inspiredphotography