To Cover the Earth

Large white flakes of snow

Drifting slowly to the earth

Seem in no hurry.

One, two, a billion

Silent white flakes descending

To cover the earth.

Striding through the flakes

Collette comes to say hello

Without moo or snort.

Misting the forest

With a soft and silent light:

A billion snow flakes.

Now the road's endless,

A soft and silent tube

Graced by the snow flakes.

Footprints on the snow:

Record of where I have been

(But not where I go).

Hollow shots are fired

Deep, deep in the snow filled woods;

And then, just silence.

Young evergreen tree

Shedding its color for white

Enjoys the snow fall.

Traveler! Watch Out!

From walks of January 23 and January 25, 2019

Harris Wofford's dead--

Another piece of my life

Gone....gone...with the wind.

A blue gray white light

Fills the landscape of white snow;

Birds fly back and forth.

Beyond broken fence

Rooster crows in his comfort,

But no hens respond.

There are no ripples

On the frozen stream's surface

And no sounds below.

Its mouth opened wide

Not filled with any letters

Settles for some snow.

Neither this nor that--

Gray world hovers between them;

Will it rain or snow?

They're hanging between:

Transparent crystal drops--

Liquid or solid?

Lying on the bank

With air of insouciance:

Dead leaves reclining.

Bright sun shines on snow;

Scattered cloud puffs in the sky;

Birds swoop in and out.

Christmas ornament

Hangs a month after Christmas

With its memories.

I fall on my ass

And get up slowly and walk--

My show must go on!

Treacherous ice lies

Looking very innocent.

(I've learned my lesson).

Stream is flowing,

Breaking and dissolving ice

Rushing who knows where?

Where is St. Francis?

Almost concealed by the snow.

His faith sustains him.

Water on the ice

Shines prettily in the sun--

Traveler! Watch out!!

Through trees and windows

Woods beyond car can be seen;

Always the forest.

Three Degrees Below

Three degrees below;

Now it's climbed to four degrees;

(Oppressive heat wave).

Red blur on feeder--

Cardinal tries to stuff himself;

Caution to the winds.

They're not complaining--

Two cows standing together;

They are just eating.

Icy drops appear,

Seeming to be forever

In the frozen day.

The road is empty;

No cars and no people

In this frozen day.

Removing my gloves

To take quick photograph

My fingers grow numb.

Two garbage cans stand

Side by side in the sunshine

Baring the fierce cold.

Sitting on the ice

A lone bird does not worry

That his ass will freeze.

Moved By Spirit Hands

Before the snow storm

Gray sky is hanging pregnant--

Waiting--just waiting.

Cardinal on the ground

Prefers the fallen bird seed;

(Or just plain lazy.)

Waiting in the bush

Patient bird wants me to leave;

(She soon gets her wish.)

Rectangular patch

Marks something which is not there

Presence of absence.

Abandoned bird nest

Marked now by a flock of snow;

Chicks have long since flown.

Through the broken fence

The empty swing sways slowly

Moved by spirit hands.

The old horse barn sits

Now populated by cars--

(Horseless carriages.)

The crotch of the tree

Looks like a wooden vulva

Waiting to give birth.