Early morning between April showers

The ecstatic trill

of a solitary

songbird

pierces the sky

as billowing clouds

promise

more rain

more green

Greening

New leaves
translucent
pale green
not fragile
fresh
vivid
tenacious

Return of Lady Sun

Lady Sun

spreads her dazzling

blue mantle

gilded with

diamond rays

We bask

beneath its canopy 

of warmth

and renewal

In the distance

A single
stately 
pelican
floats serene
a ship
with sails furled
at harbor

April 10, 2016: 100 days 100 poems

100     

Ancient
ageless
oak
reaches down
as if pronouncing
an elder’s benediction
upon the
newborn 
grass

Yesterday's Image:

Where it began the first time

January 12, 2014, day 1

On the horizon, evergreens brush

feathery smudges of blue beneath

winter's lowering sky.

April 9, 2016

99

April’s blue

feels warmer

brighter 

in spite of clouds and

cold wind

Is it the

sun’s strength

the day’s length

or is it hope

of summer 

still to come?

Yesterday's Image

January 13, 2014, day 2:

Sunset blooms

orange poppy with translucent petals

curling on itself and collapsing

before I can pluck it.

April 8, 2016

98

Sunshine

and snowflakes

Minnesota spring

Yesterday's Image

January 14, 2014, day 3 Fresh snow wraps eaves in curved crenellations dissolving at corners into sparkling showers of diamonds.

April 7, 2016

97

The sound

of wind

and wheels

on wet pavement

brings to mind

the steady rhythm

of distant ocean waves

Yesterday's Image

When I began the 100 day of poetry project

in 2014, I didn't post photos with my poems

at first. The first four images are words 

alone.

January 15, 2014, day four

Spring's tiny flowers still cling to

winter's bare branches

irregular red beads

on a black cord.

April 6, 2016: Tricks of the light

96

A rosy echo

of dawn’s eastern fires

tints the west

a vision

of evening to come

Yesterday's Image

January 16, 2014, day 6
The eye follows
the sun's compass line
to sketch a rainbow
filling in the broken circle
with the missing pieces.

April 5, 2016: Lifeblood

95

Buds
blush
in the chill
wind 

Yesterday's Image

January 17, 2014, day 6

Revealed:

beneath summer's green

a thousand branching capillaries.

April 4, 2016: Tipping Point

94

In glorious spite

of whiplash

cold fronts

windchill 

and sleety predictions

the river 

will not refreeze

trees

will not refurl

their budding leaves

bulbs

will not withdraw

their green blades

birds 

will not return south

or cease singing

the earth

will not tilt

a cold shoulder

to the sun

Spring

will not retreat

Yesterday's Image

January 18, 2014, day 7
Hidden:
beneath velvet snow
the river percolates between rocks
to emerge alive 
beneath the bridge.

April 3, 2016: Dawn

93

Lady Sun

arises 

from

a billowy bed

of cloud

to calm

and birdsong

and a wink

and smile

from Sister Moon

Yesterday's Image

January 19, 2014, day 8

Deja vu:

Today's clouds--

yesterday's rocks

Sky--water

living under ice.

April 2, 2016: Grass

92

Tossed by
a brisk wind
winter’s flaxen
hair bows
to the force
of spring

Yesterday's Image

January 20, 2014, day 9

Brighter:

Under January's monochrome sky

I still find

gold.

April 1, 2016: Nature's joke?

91

Sharp northwest wind
bows trees
wearing a faint hint
of new leaves
but the blue sky
warms my eyes
and as far as 
I can see
green

Yesterday's Image

January 21, 2014, day 10

A carpet of diamonds

laid out

under a forest of lamp posts.