Another COVID Milestone

quarantine closures
plus trapped-home anxiety
delayed this moment

yet, the smile wins
a year later, we made it
(a taste of freedom)

Digging Out

first building puzzles
then cuddling with kitties
nice to see that grin

weekday wondering:
so surrounded by failure
i question each thing

because the cutout?
the perfect light/dark balance?
it doesn’t exist.

a wilting orchid 
brought by an empty classroom:
symbol of my month

or this calendar 
hiding (not hiding) events
never. ending. tasks.

should have stuck with hearts
and Valentines on their doors
and kept my mouth shut

a small chance to win
with what small time we have left
these teenaged smiles

she's eighteen too soon
my oldest baby, my star
i hope she'll go far

i’ll grasp this aspen 
framed by its own starry night
when i need some peace

my baby skiing 
breaking my heart in these trees
(not such a baby)

she skis black diamonds
from the top of the mountain 
to her mama’s soul

i'll write a haiku
as easy as this damn day
filled with lines. and love.

you will never know
how hard i've tried to earn this.
you can taste the snow.

you can taste blue sky.
it comes in moments, this love.
moments found on slopes.