As the Song Goes On

 Squirrel tears across lawn;
Another squirrel tears behind it.
(Squirrely kind of day.)

Windows are dirty;
Makes the outside world pristine,
When I leave the house.

 

 Mountains disappear,
Snow melting on my front porch.
Make way for springtime!

Three bird serenade
Played in tree above my head:
Short pizzicato.

Ice in stream again--
Winter plays tag with the Spring--
Frozen touch--"You're out!"

Crouched against the tree,
Wood monster prepares to leap!
(Then changes its mind).

Chimes inform the wind
Which answers with a light puff,
As the song goes on.

A washed out red flag
Hangs in tatters from a branch.
Its battle's over.

The Cold Continues

 

No green on the ground--
Patchwork play of brown and white,
In the morning sun.

 

Shadows in the woods;
Black and white across the street.
The cold continues.
 

 

A mouth full of hay.
That's all Olivia needs
For her morning bliss.
 

 

How blue the clear sky
Dappled with some feathered clouds;
How icy the wind.
 

 

Hanging piece of rope
Hung purposefully between wires.
(What purpose is that?)

 

Thick walls of firewood
Across from the snow bound woods--
A fortress of heat.

 

 Wayward ornaments,
Silver, shining in the snow
Far from Christmas tree.

Tall rotting tree stump
Is now a fearful totem--
Companion of Death.

Snow Flakes are Falling

 

 

Brown spots extending
As earth opens to the sun
And the snow recedes.

Laury on the road,
Her old dog dragging behind.;
Two tired routines.

The air is softer;
Blanket of clouds in the sky.
Bird calls all around.

The weary mail box
After a winter's struggle
Bows down to the ground.

As the snow pulls back
It leaves debris of winter--
Trash before flowers.

The ancient stone wall
Has flowed down the mountain side
And formed an eddy.

Ghost is naked now;
He snuffles his hay and grain,
Just like every day.

Above the gray sky,
Flying chorus of wild geese,
Show only their sound.

Snow flakes are falling--
Thick white flakes are floating
On third day of Spring.

Inviting No One

 

 It's Spring plus one day;
Wind whistles in the windows,
Bright sun on the snow.

 

 A day of shadows--
Bright-dark in equal measure;
The road is empty.

 

The road is silent;
Only the transformer hums
In the morning breeze

 

 Big nose and deep voice,
Mabel barks behind her fence--
A Bassett hello.

No ice on the stream:
Its water rumbles softly;
Wind roars up the road.

Tinkling wind chimes
Ride faintly on the rough wind,
Inviting no one.

 

 Lying wheelbarrow
Partially filled with old snow
Still sleeps through winter.

Thrown out  a window
It lands on the filthy snow;
(Dog shit is nicer)

This frozen ditch
Soon to be a rushing stream
In blink of an eye.

Sun and Clouds Play Hide and Seek

Tomorrow is Spring;
Sun and clouds play hide and seek.
Everywhere--dripping.

 

Like an actor's mask
The clouds step over the sun;
Then pull back again.

 

 Mirror on the road
Reflects the melting winter,
And the shifting sky.

 

Rude wind up the road
Nearly blows my hat away;
Then passes me by.

 

Bird nest in the bush
Revealed by the melting snow;
Inhabitants gone.

 

Stream in the stream bed,
Dark against the melting snow
Comes again to life.

 

Up the mountain side
Tree shadows lie on the snow,
Nourished by the sun.

 

 Sailing through the air
Black hawk floats under a cloud,
A piece of the sky.