
the wish
after all this busying of body, resisting rest
like a toddler hurling her blanket through the night,
after all these efforts manifesting goals, dreading
rejection, willing perfection like a cheerleader
campaigning for homecoming queen, after all this wishing,
and scheming, and thinking, and striving,
the doing, and doing, and driving, and driving,
you press your boot to the brake in the red light’s
glow. you look up at the sky blushing clouds
of dusk. and your eyes catch a starling, swooping
from the power line to a tuft of weeds broken free
from the concrete. in this stillness of rush hour traffic,
the north star of your heart burns a hole
in your thoughts. you finally feel
the wish for now. the wish to be
nothing but dandelion root and iridescent
wings, the wish to be nothing
but being loved and loving.
imperatives at the lake
let’s imagine
we are mermaids
diving in water where ripples
make imperfect mirrors for
light’s possibilities.
let’s imagine
we are birds
swooping through scarlet
clouds of clear
morning promise.
let’s imagine
we are sailors
raising goblets of wine
to the wise
western winds.
let’s imagine
we are sea fairies
sipping tea in a magical
garden, laughing
with undying delight.
sister song
for Amy on her 40th birthday
persimmon scented, jewel
tone laugh. fire to my air
and incessantly singing.
god-given playmate in woods
of white oak with evergreen eyes
unafraid of the dark. keeper of
secrets with ice in her stare,
flickering knowing in heat
of the flame. glow of hearth. heart
of trees. wide open wings,
blue heron forgiveness. rhythm
of river and old-time devotion,
earth to my water. salt on
the melon. the plate piled high
with ice-cream and pie. warming,
savoring. nourishing. nourishing.
mother of lullabies, tenacity,
truth with baskets and bowls
of ripening fruit. the tender
middle of the honeyed fig.
extravagance of summer.
scarlet of fall. rooted and
giving and vibrating songs of
roses and oceans of memories
unending. alive to my life
since the beginning. listening,
listen. the song
keeps gleaming.