Alas

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

Best Valentine Date

vaccine Valentine 
does love get any better
than this science?

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

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.

our symbolic cat
sitting by his empty plate
waiting for his love

always the baker
coming up with concoctions 
to sweeten our lives

snow arrived today.
soft, slippery, it snuck in
and brought back this piece:

in the purple night
on our perfect patio
completion beckons.

a small redemption

when the pieces fit in place

so rarely perfect

one day at a time
I’ll win back my little one
(no longer little)