two days of labor
(grunt work for those unwilling
to use elbow grease)
and yet, it’s Christmas:
mixer, platters, and dishes
we’ve lived years without
back to our dream house
where toil pays us back
with soft purring fur
love
Pluck the Season
first harvest now reaped
just in time for spring planting
and a spinach dip
Happy Mother’s Day
caught in the stream bed
three beautiful growing girls
who made me a mom
Refocus
when you’re trapped by gloom
and unable to say why
refocus your lens
you might catch a glimpse
of golden sunlit peaks;
a stand-alone tree
spring rain bringing food
(hidden in these rays, raindrops)
to a front range ranch
refocus your lens–
windows will open your eyes
to a clearer view
Awake at 5:00 a.m.
sometimes exhaustion
disrupted by weeklong pain
can bring fresh beauty
Enlightenment
beyond the blue dawn,
the stop lights, houses, traffic–
pink mountain sunrise
it’s like their love poems–
so cheesy; adolescent;
(in their second tongue)
Silverstein turned down
so they could find their own muse
and make my Wednesday
they practice reading,
words chopped by heavy accents;
beautiful and sharp
i can see clearly
the pink peaks; hear soft words lost
behind busy streets
it’s the glimpse of hope
caught in this lens, in their voices
that’s worth stopping for
Backed Up
all patience is lost
in last moments before bed
when i need quiet
like i need to breathe;
and the moment i grab her,
we’ve all gone too far.
days filled with backtalk
backfire in waning light
where i lose myself
gentle goodnight kiss
only mimics my remorse
as tears touch her eyes
forgiveness now saved
for dawn’s awakening touch
as gentle as dreams
Date Day
spring rain can’t stop us
from A-line’s call to freedom
escape found with love
Global Village
the world lives here
where i spend half of my life
blessed to share this space
The Blues
after rain, blue sky,
blooming redbuds, purple lawn,
and linings of hope
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