Wednesday, November 6, 2024

late frost

grass trembles in the wind 
sun shines but does not warm 

it seems autumn wants to take hold 
but the green protests leaves 
hanging on to trees 
grass staying stubbornly 
green flowers still colouring bright 

and here we are caught by the carbons we emit 
with nothing better to do 
than watch the grass grow
 

Thursday, October 3, 2024

forty years

a round full apple 
a firm green grape 
a weighty novel 
a yellowing leaf 
a pretty path through woods 
a tenderloin steak 
a giant wave to float 
a mountain rising 
a sweet yellow cob 
a ripe juicy peach 
a green blade of grass 
a vow that makes a home

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

September

look out after rain
water drops hang from chair frame 
like pearls of sadness

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Lucinda Williams (Folk Fest '24 poem #3)

she leans on the mic stand 
this woman who has endured so much 
and has little of her volcanic presence left 

still has that sandstorm voice 
and a loyal band that follows her anywhere 

as she sings you took my joy 
spitting nails in the air 
anger so hot like lava flowing from the stage 
this woman

Friday, September 13, 2024

Norah likes rocks

rock 
she says 
on the diving board seeing a large heavy stone sitting there 

she squats and smiles 
for this is a true rock 
worthy of the name 
and worthy of the smile

for she likes rocks their solid feeling 
in the small tender hand 

sentences will soon come 
but for now it’s just “rock” 
and we get it

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

free treasure - wedding poem Sarah and Jonathan

she wears her grandmother’s dress 
with fifty-six buttons up the back 
he in a blue suit with a bowtie

hand in hand they walk down the grassy aisle 
in this shady grove 
on this hot day in August 

while a trio of women sing of 
free treasure 

this love so available 
so there for the taking 
so stunning 
so life giving 

to commit to a long walk down 
many paths 
   some green 
      some steep 
         some rocky 
            some winding 
leading to deeper wells providing clear cold water 
as we dance hot night through with Oma looking on 
smiling

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Cowboy Junkies at Big Blue (folk fest '24 #2)

ever since the 
Trinity Sessions
you have been a blue moon in my orbit 

and that afternoon show returned the sweetness 
and downbeat cool to my soul 

even though so many moons have passed 
kids and cancer and retirement and grandkids 

and as I sat 
a little bit hobbled 
in a partially shaded spot 

I was young again 
‘cause there is no one quite like you