silence

cat's paws crawling
across a lake's surface
morning silence

Bobcat

green fire --

a bobcat's eyes

betray him

the river in autumn

summer rains gone

the river

finds its own channel

Harvest moon -- for owls

Harvest moon --
owls sharpen
talons

Harvest moon

Harvest moon --
too much light
for field mice

dreams

a butterfly alights
on a flower petal
weight of a dream

Blood-red moon

blood-red moon
its copper sheen
a battle standard

Ripeness

ripeness
sweetness of
tropical fruit just so

Indecision

a squirrel dashes forward
then suddenly stops
indecision

Rain

rain sledding down
an awning
joyously

Childhood's last summer

lighting the way
 with a jar of fireflies
childhood's last summer

Late summer

tang of salt spray
at a fishing pier
late summer

Moon

Gazing at the moon
on a still summer's evening
feast for mosquitoes

Long shadows

long shadows follow
at the end of the day
silently

Snow in June

white fluttering/ of butterflies/ snow in June    

broken sidewalks

weeds and crabgrass
cover broken sidewalks
abandonment

Morning in the Tropics

a soft morning rain
falling on a tin roof shed
so tropical

Oklahoma

Dark wind cloud
blocking out the sun
at least for now

Palm Fronds

Two palm fronds brushing
against each other
the tearing of silk

Sparrow

on a shopping cart
a sparrow
serenades

the Conclave

prisoners in court
in their bright, distinctive garb
awaiting judgment



in honor of the awesome responsibilities of the cardinals about to enter the
Conclave with my prayerful hopes that they elect a holy and worthy successor to
Peter in these troubled times.

The will vote in a room that reminds them and all of the gravity of the
election. For their choice they will be held accountable at the Last Judgment.

Party's over

silverfish scurry
as desk drawer opens
party's over

Palm Sunday pilgrim

her small fingers hold
two palm fronds that she waves
Jerusalem-bound

White Azaleas

white azaleas
attract bees that buzz softly
as if mindful

mo(u)rning doves at dawn

a cooing is heard
from a small puff of feathers
another dawn