deep into the umbra

i learn to

love again

*

arctic

this bed

without you

*

when the wind slows down the milkweed

*Published in the winter 2023 edition of The Bamboo Hut

from pink to violet

to the darkest indigo

this sunset

has touched my soul

in places i had forgotten

*

between the lands

of awake and sleep

a melody

rises from each tulip

waiting for your touch

*Published in the spring 2021 edition of The Bamboo Hut

 a quiet pond

reflects a pool of stars

this must be

what it feels like

to reach the gates of Heaven

*

the rain is gentle

and the wind is soft

today i vow

to bottle up and save

this moment of ahh

*

my thumb caresses

this piece of moonstone

i wonder

whose hands loved you

long before mine

*Published in the spring 2021 edition of The Bamboo Hut

 in the past

i have known peace

but this night

is full of storms

without relief

*

a small

tendril of moonlight

what if

i held my pain

like a treasured lover

*

i know

the darkness will return

but

for this moment

i have found peace

*Published in the winter 2021 edition of The Bamboo Hut

awaiting

the cooler days of fall

i curl into

a book 

as thick as the moon

*

it’s late at night

and i might be

the only one awake

to watch the softness

of your breath

lay upon our home

*

first the lightning

then the thunder

when a dream

finds parts of my soul

i had yet to discover

*

that feeling 

when you first wake up

here but so far away

i want to hold on

to that moment

just a few seconds longer

*

after rising from sleep

waves of life

crash upon me

perhaps it’s a good thing

i have always loved

an untamed ocean

*Published in the autumn 2020 edition of The Bamboo Hut

i close my eyes

and breathe in

slowly

light pours through

each window

*

leaves gently

fall towards the earth

how easy

it is to love

all of nature’s beauty

*

while the world

shatters around me

i will pretend

a rainbow is waiting

to ignite a blackened sky

*

this morning

full of rain and gray

thank you

for giving me

a space to ache

*Published in the summer 2020 edition of The Bamboo Hut

silent film

clouds move across

my thoughts

*

an Oscar

worthy performance

dying rose

*

brighter days

the chickadee’s call

awakens me

*

spring

your gentle

encouragement

*

all my luggage

packed

road to freedom

*Published in the spring 2020 edition of The Bamboo Hut

blank canvas

the earth covered

in fresh snow

*

a brush

of color

...spring returns

*

the Master’s Hand

flowers here

and there

*

a few leaves

redden

...chiaroscuro

*

endless art

nature’s glory

throughout the year

*Published in the winter 2020 edition of The Bamboo Hut

prelude

in D major

the sun’s slow ascent

*

free jazz

all at once

birdsong

*

syncopation

the wind

before the storm

*

coda

breathing in

day’s fall

*Published in the autumn 2019 edition of The Bamboo Hut

moment of peace

just me

and autumn’s hush

*

fearless

I let the snow fall

upon my tongue

*

newfound hope

hints of green

bathe the woodland

*

joyful noise

the crunch of earth

beneath my sole

*Published in the summer 2019 edition of The Bamboo Hut

fallen petal

another soul

lost to drugs

*

like Satie

how the dusk turns

red to violet

*

night music

the gentle thrum

of solitude

*

ochre dawn

I bathe my ears

in ragas

*

happy surprise

the blue jay's call

between snowflakes

*Published in the spring 2019 edition of The Bamboo Hut