sweet and salty (for virginia)

this morning i

tore the top off the jones bottle you gave me
heard the seal break with finality

watched bubbles rise like childhood hopes
through blue, true as friendship

remembered rainbows upon window sills
rimming spring peepers and thunderstorms

raised the glass to my lips
swallowed soda, sweet like river dreams

ripped the picture off the empty bottle
read my fortune: "lady luck will soon visit"

felt a tear slide
tasted salt

toasted cheers to you, kindred spirit
to love


kindred spirits, we.

winter drought (for serge)

craggy breath forms

vapour clouds that

freeze and fall, freeze and fall --

another snow storm

pale hands reach

for sun, grasp shadows,

wipe up today's mess,

flick off the light

dry eyes squint

up at this empty barrel,

down, at no more rope,

over, at the cover of my Bible

winter toes (for ruthiey)

good morning, toes!

you're looking very "Temperamental" today.

(as are twenty of my thirty little piggies,

but that's our secret)

now, where are my slippers?

peek at ruthiey's raspberry toes here.

redemption's journey (for misty)

my friend spoke to me

of beige places as maps --

maps tracing toddler discovery

and if so, then oh my,

my world is full,

full of maps

over the cupboards and

up the stairs and

across light switches, door knobs, khakis

each new mark

closer to the ceiling

than the last

...and of redemption's journey,

mapped out by the marks

of my struggles, and i pray:

may each new mark be

closer to the ceiling

than the last.

she spoke here.

there are many others here.

candle

a wick can never drink its fill.

once set aflame, it pulls and pulls

on hot wax until

there is none left within reach.

then, when all hope is gone,

it sputters like a drunken man,

dying,

up in smoke.

other brother

And going on from there

He saw two other brothers,

James the son of Zebedee

and John his brother,

in the boat with Zebedee their father,

mending their nets,

and He called them.

Immediately they left the boat

and their father

and followed Him.

- Matthew 4:21,22

i so would have tried to finish mending my net first.

i'd have gone down in history as an "other brother".

nothing more.

snow castle

there's what's left of our snow castle --

that dirty pile the plow made

beside the parking lot next door.

we would bundle,

round the corner,

follow the prints out back,

find adventure.

awaken this dragon,

transform me into a princess.

every time i went up,

i worked on the stairs

so you three could follow.

on the top

we drank blue-gold sky,

hid from car lights.

every time i went down,

you took your turns

hugging me on our sled.

i don't care that it's melting.

my memories won't.

we'll build again next winter.

hurry back (for leah)

together we sat

under your picture window

overlooking the highway

that turns at the lights

and winds north out of town

your son was in the laundry basket

or upside-down on the couch

or in the chair, feet on ears

my sister watched him

like it was the last time

i didn't want to touch you

or i would cry

but i'm no buddhist --

i'm going to feel this --

so i did

and i do,

and i will,

but this is getting old

this saying good-bye

this praying see you soon

your eyes brimmed with light

as my feet shuffled down your porch

the paper towel blew off

the food you gave me

i snatched it back

but i can't do that to you


















faraway friends, let's meet at emily's

unfolding valentines

never cared much for valentine's day.

come on -- it's just another way

to push long-stemmed roses,

pink bears with red toeses

and chocolates arrayed in a heart-shaped tray.

thirty-five years ago today,

a girl and a guy i know made their way

from the aisle at a church

to the end of their search

for a home of their own, a place to stay.

twenty-nine years later -- the twelfth of may --

their very first grandson came to play.

but when school time drew nigh,

the boy started to cry

as from rooms full of people, he shied away.

then along came the time for all to say,

"will you be mine? happy valentine's day!"

a bag of paper hearts

helped the boy to start

unfolding in friendship -- come what may.

now i sit here and type in my way.

i look at those paper hearts, and i pray,

"thank You, God, for my boy,

for our home filled with joy,

and yes, thanks especially for valentine's day!"

redemption

seeking solidarity
pilfering economy
pilandering ecstasy
philosophising "immortality"

men in prison, enthroned

hovering light
creating sight
owning right
reclaiming night

God-from-stable, entombed

"come and worship,
come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King"

and i will


come to emily's

a confession (for james and lisa)

my girlfriend,

you are sick today.

this really isn't good.

you can't even bear the thought

of eating yummy food.

my guy friend,

you stayed home today.

you took care of your wife.

your iphone rang and you went running

because she's yours for life.

my friends,

i tried to help you out,

to share with you a token

of my thanks for your friendship...

but now your shovel's broken.


how's that for "imperfect prose"?

...here's some deep stuff.

new contacts

oh, look at the world!
fresh, crisp, clear.

oh, slimy little beautiful
things in my eyes.