October snow

and then 

it’s white 

all the green and brown and red 

of October 

blanched with first snow 

and a small pine branch has broken 

off the tree and lies on the grass 

all snowy 

a little mound of twigs 

like a small pyre 

it would burn if match were lit 

beneath 

and then we could 

sing 

a farewell song to sun-warmed ground 

modal harmonies 

slowly descending 

into sad sudden snow-washed winter

West Hawk Lake October 2020

on the rocky cliffs 

above this meteor lake 

    with a chill brushing our cheeks 

    and sun dappling through clouds 

caught by beauty of late fall leaves 

reflected on still deep water 

    reaches fully into you pulling up 

    memories like tangled ropes 

for we’ve been here before 

on this pre-cambrian rock 

    at this ancient crater 

    singing our songs of love and faith into the familiar forest 

Trump haiku (last one)

we are counting days

‘til you sick tree are chopped down

thud heard ‘round the world 

pictures at Fort Whyte

this place with paths 

and bridges over wetlands 

with ducks and geese and martins 

with bison and deer 

with aspen and maple 

and oak leaves yellowing and falling 

we meet at this place 

and stand together in this grove 

in this dappled light 

captured in our autumn colours 

in this place of preservation