midnight thunder struck
after opossums purred by
searching us for peace
these were our night sounds,
cicadas’ long lullaby
and small waves lapping
the rain drove us here
across state lines new to us
with new warning signs
bridge that cut through glass
brought us to the lost city
found again by sun
new sounds now rock us
of saxophones and jazz clubs
that purr by for peace
all in a day’s work:
a touch of nature, people;
all in the journey
what we need this June
is blooming summer beauty
to refresh our lives
city officials planned my afternoon,
marking a triangular pink line
ready for tomorrow’s slaughter
(for an inclusive world)
the girls and i set to work,
abandoned wagon in tow,
trip after trip filled with rocks and rhubarb
ready to be salvaged
in neat lines we laid our stones,
replanted our ripe-ready fruit,
made easy plans for controlling mulch
and baking tart spring pies
the girls ran off with new neighbors
(one stayed behind to lend muscle and wheelbarrow)
and my workout was taken over
by heavy lifting and a dream house
first harvest now reaped
just in time for spring planting
and a spinach dip
Spanish test failure
topped off with plainsong friend walk
to relieve my doubts
everything’s better
with melting snow and spring skies
to wash away fear
finally finished
ready to send on its way
to a hopeful life
on my winter walk
to the store for its framing
city windmills spun
semi-frozen lake
with geese searching snow for grass
i clocked three miles
the girls took friendjoy
and kitten-lap-book cuddles
to carve our Tuesday
(yet–there was a hole–
chicken noodle in crockpot,
rolls ready to bake)
he worked late again
and bore the winter ride home
no windmills in sight
through cycling
in and out of neighborhoods
brick by brick, i fell
love lost, and then won
bungalow to bungalow
my city wooed me
the wheels spun me back
(sold my heart to Cheesman Park)
from bad-boy breakups
all along back streets
Park Hill, Cole, Cory Merrill
like love at first spin
bikes are trendy now
(they’ll dress like freaks to prove it)
but my bike love lives
in this uphill ride
with mountain sunset backdrop
my girls guiding me
i see them falling–
street by street, scraped knees and all–
in love with my love
my morning prayer call:
please end these flooding puddles
water can destroy
our house ruined thrice
our hope so oft washed away
ponds where there was lawn
but look at the view
the first-world rainy view
to make my request
after the drenched walk
to a surprise bonus check
to start my summer
it’s like He listened
by midday? pools and blue skies
walking can save souls
a wasted training
a waste of district dollars
a waste of my day
but at six-thirty
they shoveled mud off the path
giving me my ride
at least there’s a view
a day’s cycling release
to shed off the waste
driving’s for the birds
who’d love these pretty flowers
as they fly to work
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