When Making Stars

When making stars for your daughter,
it is important to be careful.
Try and retry as needed the initial folds,
but remember that mistakes can be recovered.
Understand that where the paper ends
is not the end; ends can be adjusted.
Force no point to grow by hasty pressure of
your thumbnail on the side. Trust
that you will find a giving place,
and that the star will grow with only
guidance from your hand.

January 26 2010

Flowers On a Table

In transition from one
frustration to the next,
I see that you have left
on the table
flowers,
whose portrait I wish I could paint.
Thank you.

January 26 2010

How And Why We Go Down

How and why we go down
regardless, sometimes we go down.
You know the fall: how dark,
how desperate,
how long.

Sometimes
we even ask the fall
to rescue us from
unguarded heights,

but other times
the fall commands, and who then
truly stands?

But if you fall,
if you cannot hear me call to say
that you will climb back up one day, at least
I would throw down flowers;

I would throw down flowers
if it is all I can do;
I would throw down flowers
for you.

January 15 2010

The Shadows of a Tree

In the wind shadow of this tree,
the ground is bare.
In the sun shadow of this tree,
the snow remains.
One tree,
two shadows.
And the image I remember
makes a third.

January 9 2010

On a Snowy Hill

They go down the hill
not knowing
this sled's the one I gave you
thirty years ago
not knowing
they'd be going down this hill
today.

January 9 2010

Jake the Fly

I haven't met Jake the fly
and frankly hope I don't.
She found his sister Francine
in the bathroom
dead
today
and together we returned her
to the earth with tears and prayer.

If I met Jake
tonight or tomorrow,
what could I possibly do or say?

January 3 2010

The Soldier Left

The soldier left
to start his tour of duty
while the snow fell,
leaving family and friends.
For a long time he had lived at home
building and tending
keeping his appointed rounds
and, recently,
remembering,
till now he was ready to serve again.

Next day the snow
fell from trees and telephone wires
on yards and streets
past the windows of those
he left behind
gently
quietly
peacefully.

In memory of Jim O'Brien

January 1 2010