Winter Hour

Where are the deer at this hour in winter?

Where do they go for warmth?

Do they feel this cold as we do?

They have not all disappeared.

I wish to know but I must settle

for in complete knowledge

at least for know

We are not meant

to know all. 

For You and Danny

I sent you a message

You called me right away

I didn't expect

to hear your voice so soon

You asked if it was intuition

or if I had heard the news

I said intuition

You told me your brother

died last night in hospital

That all of you were 

by his side as he transitioned

Tears, disbelief, relief

all gave way to one another

and back again

You said he had been ill

He had been worsening

I could say nothing

He was only in his fifties

He was young

You are mourning

the loss of a future

You told your children

and they cried too

Your daughter said

it was a sad Friday

and you said yes it was

I'm writing this 

the morning after

our conversation

in the dark just before 

the sunrise 

A million more things

I could say 

But I told you

I love you

and you said it back

and 

Para Mi Esposa

Yes I love you

How long we have loved

and endured

What is a lifetime

Still the noise of this world 

Guide your heart to a place of rest

Let silence overtake you

Strings Singing

I hear the bowing of the cello

as strings sing 

Waves crest and trough 

through my heart

Does happiness take work

When I listen it comes

When I close my eyes

I see it before me

Are you breathing

Don't hold your breathe

Don't clench that jaw

Listen listen listen

over and over 

as much as needed

Listen listen listen

What is time and distance

with memory alive

to bridge the gaps 

between us

Hooves

It has been snowing overnight

I've woken late

The night yet lingers

Are there hoof prints in the snow?

Somewhere 

Somewhere

Cello

What dream is this

to wake to a cello

playing Bach 

in the forest

How strange

This is no dream

Fingers moving

over the neck

Bow angling

back and forth

What patience

What mastery

You have wished

to learn to master

What secret dream

There is yet time

A Friend

What has changed over these many years?

Many things, if not everything.

This desire, so stubborn, so bullheaded,

yet remains.

To sit here, to ponder, to wonder,

to watch the branches of the trees,

and dream of others places, 

other people, and other times. 

To find the words as they venture forth

and give them form and life.

Or is it the other way around?

Tea Leaf Fortune Teller

Steam is escaping the kettle.

The cup waits in anticipation.

The tea is indifferent.

Life is changing states.

What comes next

is entirely predictable.

Un Autre An

we are still here

walking the path

looking everywhere

feeling everything

breathing

are you