It’s been six months since my dog departed 04/21/2012

A collection of poems written around the time of Junedog’s passing.

old dog collar

jingles

autumn colours

…

gazing northward

the Dogwood rusts

her collar lays still

…

and now

leaves blow

empty bowl
…

monument

vermillion Dogwood

leaves fill the bowl

…

a sigh

her breath

vanishes

…

Dogwood tree rusts

vermillion blanket

covers the jingle
…

Chrysanthemum, in time

her empty collar

vermillion Dogwood

…

one month

one dog

oneself

…

pink belly

rolling by

fleeting

…

pink belly

at sunset

rolls by

…

blue clouds

moonlit mountains

shiver

…

pink under belly

clouds

soft fur

…

chrysanthemums surround

her empty collar

leaves like a blanket fall

Branches 03/30/2012

…

branches that glisten
overhang the pond
rain still drops

New Year’s Day 03/20/2012

…

barren meadow
wings of a Sisken flock
excite the day

…

snow dusts the pathways
standing out
in the sun

…

first whack of the axe
sends Pine Siskens
scattering from tree tops

…

the sky imposes
itself
on the barren orchard

…

barren orchard
Siskens flock above
brings the sky down

…

barren orchard
Siskens flock above
cut the crisp branches

…

new year’s day
coming to
from a dream

…

old pod husk
at the bottom
empty woodbox

…

barren orchard
Siskens flock
acrobats in flight

…

new year’s day
shifting only slightly
a weathervane looks on

…

barren orchard
a flock of Siskens
rise all at once

…

barren orchard
dozens of Sisken
crisp stillness of dawn

…

snow covers
the land reveals
frozen pathways

…

beyond view
a bird makes waves
in a cold pond

…

pink mushroom
the slimey cap is perfect
a race with a slug

…

patch of mushrooms
in a mossy wood
bending low

…

a range of mountains
cut by evergreens
in each direction

…

sideways
light filled sky
the hint of a storm

Oh, to have 03/12/2012

…

oh, to have undying
cheerful chirping
melts the frost

…

slug, do you prefer
a mushroom
iced?!

…

brown all around
but sacred cedar
fragrant reminder

…

 

Shedding 03/04/2012

shedding outworn armour
habitual hell
trust yoga

Soapberries 03/01/2012

…

soapberries
could be snow
the low light of dawn

The Moon 02/29/2012

…

the moon awakens
diffused pink eclipses
there is no other

…

awakened
by light eclipsing
shy blood moon

…

strangely warm
blood moon eclipses
a deer leaves the meadow

…

rosehips, ready
for hot tea
settles

For Evelyn’s 90th birthday 02/22/2012

…

west window sill
a spider crosses
the purple violets

…

african violets
sunny window sill
purple petals drop

…

violets face the south
leaning
purple petals wrinkle

- Happy birthday Grammy!

Rain 02/14/2012

…

rain pouring
still the sun
lightens the sky

 

Frost Ripened 02/11/2012

…

frost ripened rosehips
a pendulum swings
hawthorn berries in the wind

…

on juicy rosehips
a chirping wren
hawthorn berries swing

…

radiant red
rosehips grow
and melt

…

red rosehips
the colour thaws
for winter cheer

…

soapberries & rosehips
decorate
shimmering stars

…

bleary-eyed
soapberries
could be snow!

…

hawthorn berries hang
ripe rosehips glisten
some colour remains

Willow 02/04/2012

…

willow bends dripping
into the river
rain falls in a torrent

…

branches droop over
the pond on a grey day
reflects the sky

…

branches droop over
the surface reflects
a grey day

Sideways 02/01/2012

…

…

sideways rain
yet, the light sky
shows no storm

…

light grey
it’s just rain
which is fine

…

a pond-side dwelling
when the wind dwells
it rattles the mice loose

…

hut by the pond
a wind comes up
knock knock

…

unobserving christmas
finding
the great liberation

…

by foot to work
and home again
by foot

Waiting for spring 01/02/2012

…

walk on the frost
keeping
eyes to the sun

…

laying under cover
let the dawn
colour the day

…

i’ll lay here
twisting
a longer morning

…

buried in blankets
twisting
a broken morning

Wind Chimes 01/01/2012

…

wind chimes
rarely
sing in the summer

…

wind chimes
cold and clear
in the winter

Sideways 12/14/2011

sideways
with light clouds
unbroken storm

..

pouring rain
still the sun
behind the clouds

Sun 11/16/2011

…

sun today showing
the snow
it’s not winter yet!

…

pouring rain
still the sun
behind the clouds

 

11-11-11 11/11/2011

…

pink tips
even
crisp shadows

…

dawn
tips pink
shadows

…

light fades
yet
dawn

…

how’d i get here?
that cloud is bleeding
i am bleeding

…

stabbed
underside, floating
the darkness quickens

…

mist on the mountains
finch in a flock
aflight

…

fallen wind chimes
the storm
returns

…

knock down chimes
the storm
by the shore

…

winter wren
scatter like seeds
a storm on the ground

…

freckles of rosehips
chirping on thorns
defiant

Antlers 09/19/2011

notice the antlers
only once
peering indoors

 

 

 

tree antlers move
is that white
or frosty breath?

Frog 06/19/2011

red tints the frog
jumping with a squeal
robin spots a worm

Garden Gate 06/15/2011

garden gate…
treefrog in the distance
cool summer starts -