Knuckles in the Ground

 Rain is in the air

But no water's coming down--

It's just hanging there.

Bird feeder jump rope

Hangs loosely for birds to come.

They don't want to play.

Olivia stands

Watching College as she eats.

(What is she thinking?)

Rooster is laughing;

Maybe he just has a cold;

Hens are all silent.

Knuckles in the ground:

Old tree grabs its piece of earth;

Holds on for dear life.

Mist on the mountain;

Brown forest is dim and deep.

It's a soft morning.

Layers of the sea

Jut out in these ancient rocks,

Rolling down the hill.

Crumbling stone wall

Wends its way down the mountain,

Crashing on some rocks.

Give Two Worlds in One

Dirty windows shine

In the blur of morning sun.

Snow still on my porch.

Lady cardinal flees

As soon as I move my head.

What constant tension!

My friend Collette comes,

Scratches herself on the fence

And licks me "hello".

Sharp pond reflections

As clear as that which they reflect--

Give two worlds in one.

On this mixed cloud day

Birds are singing from all sides

Each with their own song.

Myriad thin lines

Etched in the ancient tree stump

A century old.

Trees don't stand a chance--

Tall trees, short men, and sharp saws.

Forest is buzzing.

Sprung from the same root

These trees have grown together.

Now, triplets in death.

(Worms are not Dancing)

Walks of March 23 and 24, 2018

No birds this morning;

Bird feeder is bedraggled.

A sign of Springtime?

Gray and white morning;

Monochrome winter colors

On a quiet morn.

My friend Collette comes;

She wants to lick the camera;

(It's really not sweet.)

Three dead trees lying:

Sawed off trunk, fallen branch, stump;

Aging side by side.

Woodpecker rattles

Maracas on the tree trunk;

(Worms are not dancing).

Through the tree trunk's hole

Another world can be seen:

A wooden portal.

Leaning on the tree,

Marker seems to be resting.

(All things need a break.)

Giant tree towers

Exposed at its very base.

Soon it will tumble.

Cloudless clear blue sky

Stretches to infinity

While touching my head.

Then everything is gray;

Birds continue their swooping

Indifferent to clouds.

Downed by an old storm

Mailbox lies in the forest

Mouth forever closed.

Standing on hay bales

Rooster crows to his hen flock;

Altitude is all.

Shadows on the rock;

Always different shadows fall;

Always the same rock.

Wind and ice and snow

Have brought down the iron fence

Forming a steel "V".

Radiating green

Moss lights up the old tree trunk

Welcoming the Spring.

Green sprouts springing up

Next to their snow drop neighbors:

First Spring crocuses.

Not Doing Its Job

Fat bird on feeder

Pulls down the squirrel repeller;

Can't figure that out.

Pine cones on the lawn

Replace the whiteness with brown;

Now the sky threatens.

Markers on the trees

Signify something special;

(Don't know what it is.)

Cold and threatening--

Gray the clouds filling the sky;

Maybe snow will come.

Mirror on the rock

That sits on the rushing stream:

Stillness on motion.

Snow covered tarp sits

Beneath the wood it protects.

(Not doing its job).

Bell, X, number, shield:

Rune symbols by the road

Signifying what?

Two old stump buddies

Fall into decrepitude,

Sink into the ground.