Beryl plays 18/01/17

long black braid

like entwined

melody

begins at neck and

rests the length of her back as

she leans slightly              forward

towards

keys where fingers

precisely play perfect

complement

to loving notes

from John’s bow

duet rising into

high apex of sanctuary

sanctifying all who sit beneath

with droplets of

ho

   pef

     ait

       hl

         ove

 entwined

it is well                with my soul

resolution

wind shapes snow in subtle ways smoothing out sharp corners

angling ridges on banks beside road like a knife shapes icing on

cake before candles are blown out making a wish for a puppy

that only came years later big clumsy paws spraddling  on linoleum

in the kitchen where all good things happened domain of mother  

humming hymns along with the home aroma of bread brown

loaves transforming into miracles of warm wellness sliced and

spread with butter and chokecherry jam from trees outside our

back door dark bitter fruit surrounding prominent pits and we

picked the bunches into plastic pails standing on the top of ladders

perched precariously on a picnic table wind tousling our hair

Christmas list

what I got for Christmas

a piano note pin

proudly placed on lapel of my black coat

a poinsettia        large

living red and green on pedestal by the window

books

Cohen Thein Robertson Donahue

iTunes card

spent already Roberts Buble

three shirts button up with pocket

very fitting

funky socks

curling and squares

warm slippers

to retire into

coffee

Starbucks

family

together

guarded smile

from a grandson not yet one

special gift

first Christmas

and then the train rounds

the bend

past the mountain of presents

and little boy takes note

of the chug chug chug

along the track blue and red of Santa’s train

and greets it with a “bap”

for it is

first Christmas

sits by the tree of mini lights and storied ornaments

wrapping paper ripped away

such strength

presents of

blocks

and cars

and books

that find their way into mouth for true exploration

little hands clutching life fully

and the train circles the tree again