(Re)solution

ironic notice

as the words come flooding in

(yet i can’t stop them)

no. i had no plan.

no plan for any of this.

(nor a solution).

Childrearing Forwarding

parenting problems

don’t end when the kids grow up

(they can still break you)

Colorado Born and Bred

Berthoud Pass driving

sisters learn two years apart

same day, different face

Downhill for the Uphill

2020 ends

in the same way it began

(with downhill skiing)

2020 ends

nearly every way different

than a year ago

2020 brings

a balance of sorrow, joy

hidden behind masks

2020 ends

with screens controlling our lives

(searching for meaning)

2021

with its 5-syllable self

will bring us new hope

Ice, Water, Steam

a cold winter walk

along the Colorado

right where it begins

a hot springs retreat

to strip the cold off our skins,

bring heat to our bones

Christmas Cookies

he’s no idea

what he’s got himself into

with these crazy girls

cookies are cookies.

we will cut, bake, decorate.

’cause it’s what we do.

arms, metal, ginger:

what is a holiday scent?

molasses. that’s it.

and soft-spun sugar

ready to perfect Christmas

with gingerbread sweets.

Never Gets Old

almost all love skis

and that’s enough for today

that, and fresh powder

The Tree Savior

some rough beginnings

can end in the perfect way

for a perfect day

Lit

Almost a year ago, we invited this boy home for Christmas because he was living in a youth shelter.

We brought him downtown to see this beautiful tree.

And what a year it has been. Challenging in more ways than we ever thought imaginable, and all of us adjusting to this new life of having a brother and a son in the midst of a pandemic.

Here we are, standing under these same lights. And aren’t they still beautiful?

Hard Work Pays Off

the best mail ever

with a scholarship of hope

to fulfill her dreams