November's end

Trees stand

dark and solemn

witness

to the fading fire

of day's

and month's

farewell

Stolen moment

Lady Sun's

extravagant

display

of variegated 

flame

tempts me

to pause

the morning's

busyness

and be

still

Sunset before the solstice

Evening

spreads

a bed

of pale downy cloud

and invites

Lady Sun

to lie beside him

and dream

Evening

Lady Sun

dabbles

with light

and clouds

a light hearted

finger painting

Dawn

Hopeful

hoped-for

time

when

the anxious demons

have slunk away

into the dark

that shelters them

and Lady Sun

waits

in the wings

of crimson cloud

Moment/Momento Mori

I want to find you

beyond

the colorless landscape

of my memory

in the tangible

what I can touch

hold

what will take

the warmth of my

hands

as it once

took yours

Cold Front

Harbinger winds

sweep away

the day’s dull

blanket of cloud

leaving nature

exposed

to the chill

advances

of cold winter

night

The In Between (November 2017)

Mild

and misty

evening

tempts me out

to breathe in night

and remember autumn

golden and mellow

gone now,

leaving the world

waiting

for winter

Late

I’d hoped

you would wait

Lady Sun

but your journey

will not be delayed

for my skewed

priorities

When I finally arrive

your velvet cloak

of violet

indigo

and flame

is around your shoulders

night

trailing behind

on your hem

Autumn's gifts

While
some 
still hoard
armfuls
of gold
and ruby
others
open their hands
and strew
a jeweled 
treasure
at our feet

Regret

Dawn

I won’t say

I’ve taken you

for granted

although I suppose

I do expect

your daily return

I’ve missed

your quiet

as I rush off

ahead of your

more leisurely

arrival

Too demure

to demand that

I slow down,

you stretch

warm arms

and contemplate

day

on the horizon

Absent/Present

I return

to Nature

humble

though I know

you will not turn away

or chide

my absence

indeed

have hardly noted

I was gone

You have not 

waited

to don your glowing coat

of burning colors

or shrug

it off

revealing

your slender

flexible

frame

Sept. 24 Early

Dawn

whispers

in a cool breeze

and burnished shades

of autumn

Unseasonable 9/17

Summer,

sullen,

well knowing

it has long outstayed

its welcome,

sulks joyless

above trees

rebelliously turning

toward autumn

The In Between (9/17)

September flirts

between

seasons

dropping her first

gilded leaves

on a humid

afternoon

then drawing shadows

around the shoulders

of bared trees

to ward off

evening’s chill

Dawn Companion

Sister Moon
smiles
and winks,
pleased to have
my attention, 
photo bombing
every shot
with her 
cheeky
morning 
grin

Surprised by butterflies

Flattened

by the gray weight

of my own impatience

and resentments
when

a flutter of color

a cloud of movement

excites my jaded eyes

and my heart 

startles

to joy

August's evening

The languid

hand

of evening

smudges

the cerulean edges

of summer sky

to milky

crimson

Summer's farewell

Seasons

collide

in a sweet

tart blend

of bright sun

breezes

intense green

with hints

of burnt orange

at the edges;

summer lolls

on the sidelines

of autumn’s

busy activities,

waiting for the quiet

of evening

coming cooler now

and early

Scattered

Lady Sun

plays tag

with dancing raindrops,

playfully

feinting behind clouds

and popping

surprise!

into the blue

On the trail home

Young hawk’s
fallen feather
an accidental
treasure
I will hoard 
with others
found--
or given?

Faith

To believe

to know

beneath the clouds

beyond the weary day’s

earthly rotation

behind eyelids

squeezed shut

by fear

or stubborn

refusal

to see

there is

light

Projecting August 13, 2017

Under
heavy
brooding clouds
even Lady Sun
is reluctant
to raise her head

Storm clouds

Lady Sun

lifts her head,

unbowed

undimmed

by dark clouds

ominous

on the horizon

August dawn

Lady Sun

stretches,

leisurely

in her bed

of violet

velvet

clouds

Another illusion

The afternoon’s
restful
still life
of blue sky
and suspended clouds
is drifting
forward
when my attention
drifts away;
only
the moment
is 
still

Illusion

Dawn

conjures

fairy lakes

of mist

cool

mysterious

gone

with day

Spying on the eagle

You
watch
my watching
with eagle eyes;
I’m expecting
nature’s
drama
but my presence
only
ensures
intermission

Still

Sun’s ascent

echo

of gull’s cry

even

wake of 

lake bird

etched in water

linger

in the 

still moment

between

breaths

Reclaimed

Softened

by dawn fog

the marks

of human

presence

recede

leaving 

Nature

at peace

Grief

Memories

of what

is lost

severed

taken

reach back

to nothing

push forward

to no where

Sunset

Lady Sun

slides

into the deepening

blue

of evening

leaving

ripples of color

in her wake

Scarred

We leave

our ugly marks

all over

Nature’s face,

evidence

of our

consumption

addictions

and neglect

She heals

but

scars

remain

Aloft

Afternoon

piles

a pillow fort

of clouds

a playful

image

to suit

my mood,

imagining

scrambling

to the top

and

falling

among

silver

billows

6 AM

I hear

a hum

the trapped

energy

of an orchestra’s

warming

strings

moment’s away

from the discordant

crash

of the

symphony

of machines

The Artist

Lady Sun

paints

a dawn

pastel

in wisps

of color

Sleeping in

Lady Sun
and Summer
slumber
under
a gray quilt
of cloud
reluctant
as I am
to face
this gloomy
day