This is life. First the leaves rustle, gentle with the promise of more to come. Then a crow calls lifting itself above the boughs and rustling leaves. On the covered ground animals scurry into hiding or flee across the way. Orange and red blazes through,…

Smoke fans out from the fire travelling hundreds of miles in search of its own demise But it cannot escape the heat however far it flees from the flames the sun will still have its way Clouds provide no relief it has been 49 days…

Waiting, patiently waiting, for direction, for a sign. Showing me my purpose, what is meant to be mine. Darkness turns to light, as the sun begins to shine. Revealing my true destiny, of God’s own design.

That the Earth rotates gentle everyday That Breeze blows new strength That the Sun brings me diurnal energy That the Rain washes away my concerns That I live the present That I learn from the past That I not worry about the future That I…

And it was glorious while it lasted, she thought:   The honest, earthy smell of the sheets the mornings after, The way her fears could disperse on the breeze of his smile.   Eventually, as these things happen, It was lost in a fire of…

Palace of Justice   J — man — a threatening man — lifting weights in lights-out jail — it’s his apartment — and again — glistening as we do in want and work — glistening across his back —  U — S — glistening black…

At the art show opening, the juror explains his method for choosing from the many fine submissions. Turns out he categorized each painting, sculpture, weaving, quilt, and etching by which of the four elements he thought they were ruled by. The resulting show made me…

Between the Tiles of Life   Rush, blow away the boredom, lost in wind and storm. Burst, chaos still it lingers, sparking flames are born. Splash, eyes of leaking splatter, wash those feelings out. Grounded, soil beneath the feet, emotions are the grout.   –…

Cross grass bruised brown by August beneath sky pearled with rain’s forebirth morning freshens with sparrowchant livens with leafbreeze heaven silvers slightly behind her cloudcurtain and the workworld wakes and walks through weal and woe through noise and news through blight and blessing

no fire can warm these chilled bones impenetrable as powdered earth beseeching water to quench its thirst, for wind to deliver it here. swb