hot

on Thursday morning
we had a frost warning. Now,
it's ninety degrees.

leaving work early
to drive to BWI
and not get a flat

from the hot sunlight
into the arctic a/c
for a sweet crab cake

hats and heels

lined up politely
elegant women and men
here for a funeral

at ninety-two years
still able to walk a hill
like she walked Selma

windy

sudden gusts pulling
at my clothing like wayward
little puppy dogs

4 am

at 4 am, rain.
waves echo in dream hotel.
i shudder off sleep.

echoes for monday

inside, the waves roil,
filling my ears with their wild
music, beckoning

the inner ocean
pushes out office panic
and deadline headache

wading

secretly, i bring
the shore back: salt wind in hair,
sand between my toes.

white rocks, quartz pebbles,
and grey heart-shaped stone find their
way into pocket

wet feet

The tide ebbs, pulling
my soul eastward, swallows dive
and swoop overhead.

feet firmly rooted,
and yet, inexorably,
ebbing waves pull east


feet wet in eastern
ocean, my spirit roams west
to you in desert

sputter coff start

after insomnia
ye gods —don't think i can face
the office morning

feet dragging, eyes puff'd
spine aches and creaks, brain sputters
and makes excuses

time for a cuppa
darjeeling, chai, or earl grey?
brew morning petrol

adrift

a soft morning, fog
parts way before my footsteps
yielding subtle myst'ry

my thoughts, cast off
adrift in the breeze, the sun,
motes of self elsewhere

rain

achey rain descends
upon a cranky city
honk grumble moan

cool damp musty
rain transforms the world to a
limitless basement

yellow motes swirling,
grainy particulate sea
maple, oak, poplar

monday

no sunbathing, beer,
athletic activities
on the Bishop's Lawn

oak pollen

small yellow pom-poms
accumulate around my feet
pollen spread by steps

saturday, birthday party

Robert sits enthroned
Connor refuses ice cream
Wyatt wants to bounce

birthday party hides
in an industrial park
for nephew Robert

friday, back at hopkins

how much is enough?
at what point hope exhausted?
can she take much more?

such tiny damage
causes impact out of scale
on multiple lives

hopkins

four hours behind
waiting in Hopkins OR
for mom's seventh op

above mom's gurney
fake sunlight streams down on us
providing faux cheer

small medium large
grapes ready to be plucked from
their paper nest

evening drive

red eyes glow in the night
driveway reflectors gleaming
enshrouded in fog

tuesday

the rain brings cool air
grey wetness seeps thru my brain
making thoughts mushy

monday

a little coughing.
at first, but ultimately,
the little car runs

sunday

fair temperatures
with sun and a nice cool breeze
makes for good walking

saturday

three boys in the sun
two playing with bats and gloves
and wyatt runs amok

friday

living carousel
park police lead their horses
round picnic table

thursday

just chugging along
catching up, transferring files;
it's back to work

wednesday

unseasonably
ninety degrees in april
tree pollen to boot

how long will it stay
if in pollen i inscribe
my name and the date

back to work

oh this can't be good
that noise my hard drive's making
just cannot bode well...

the day started rough
rumors of guns on campus
but just foolish boys

travel monday

airport air is stale;
full of cell chat, flight calls, and
clank of slot machines

easter sunday

fancy shirt glows blue
amid egyptian hazards
deep inside king putts

deeply engrossed with
googley eyes and textures
a fine day's shooting

saturday

with seedy beauty
faded pop-u-luxe hotels
dying on freemont

yellow buildings:
bail bonds, tax law, on a tour
scattered throughout city

good friday

the internet lags
messages from work arrive
too late for effect

a homemade breakfast
a girl could get used to this
tea, bacon, and eggs

tour of dusty shops
chatting, exploring the past
in good company

flat tire

so close to airport
i can smell the fumes, should i
abandon the car and walk?

an epic blow out
if your going to do it
at least be thorough