MothwingPoetryBlog

cottontail rabbit came calling late summer afternoon --
we'd seen one another several times that season
me startling him with the garden hose
intent on watering the plants he was hiding among
quickly apologizing with a gentle tone
sorry to disturb you, little friend

this day he sat in cool shadows
beneath the forsythia bush
no doubt a more refreshing spot
than his home in the forest across the road
with breezes here and blooming clover

my chosen task this day
to mow the lawn before it turned to meadow
I saw him there
and wondered how long he would tolerate
the roaring din of the mower's engine
passing back and forth, covering
every square foot of lawn
except a dwindling square
around the spot where he sat
silent and undisturbed

year after year we had seen adult rabbits
bring their little ones to this yard
sweet with clover
without the poisons for weeds and insects
that made the lawns all all around so bitter
no wonder he saw this space as his own
and so he sat and held his ground
until I had to yield --
the zone he claimed would not
be mown today
and in the quiet that followed
after I let the motor die
I laughed and softly said to him
you win!

life offers so many wonders
but few so personal as this:
five minutes later
as I coiled the garden hose
in another corner of the yard
thinking our encounter over
I turned surprised to see him sitting
ten feet away
his head cocked slightly
his eye on mine
curious and friendly
I laughed and found a spot to sit

can you see
my gentle companion and me?
kindred hearts sharing time
and silent conversation
so much in common
this day
this summer's tender beauty
blossom fragrance on the breeze
this trust

The Summer Rain
where can it be?
beyond the horizon
over the sea?
the heat relentless
no sleeping tonight
leaves me defenseless
when memories arrive

The Summer Rain
reminds me of you
I get so misty
heart all blue
the flashing lightning
shows tears in my eyes
thunder my heartbeat
since your goodbye

The Summer Rain
refreshes the air
quenches the senses
answers the prayer
the cooling breeze
kisses your brow
the rain in torrents
here it comes now

patient rhythm of the sun
comes round to this again
the barefoot season has begun
and watch the fun it brings

when body sheds coats
of wool and down
to show the sun
the open sense of skin
to feel the flow
of every breath
of wind
to touch tne natural world
with everything
within

to dance with waves of ocean
rolling in
to reach
the sacred elevation
where earth
reaches up to sky
as kin
to sleep in fragrant forest
misty secrets
on the wind

to echo every chant of bird
fly to every height
upon their wing
to float upon
the drift of cloud
until the seasons spin
and summer's bask
of timeless ease
turns survival fight again
when winter's wail
returns to hijack
scented wind

'til then we revel
in the rich and lusty
bounty of the land
apricots and cherries
and fresh corn on the cob
grapes and melons
and every kind of berries
perfect pleasure
on the tongue
melting sunshine
turns to sweetness
juices run

eat the red tomato
fresh and whole
ripe as wisdom
deep as dawn
fill your basket
sing out your song
the barefoot season
lasts
so
long

just past lilac time
the blue moon of may
smiles all golden
low in the eastern sky

it's so romantic --
reminding me of you

me -- still loving you
you -- far downstream
from everything we shared --
beyond reach

you didn't know this
I'm sure
the poem I sent you
to read at the gathering
when I couldn't go
and the poem of yours
I read at the festival --
two experiences
I did not anticipate
but will not forget

knowing from a distance
you were speaking
my words aloud
to our friends
and months later
performing your words
as a poem so near
to my voice
it belonged with my own

two moments
of separation
and secret translocation
I glimpse the world
from beneath your skin
see the crowd's reaction
through your eyes
feel your breath rise and fall
with my words
your your voice
your words
my voice

is it any wonder
i love you still?

I think nature arranges things
so that I show up at your door
just when you need a friend
to remind you
how good and strong
you truly are

It's the only talent I have,
really --
to simply follow my path,
until it leads me to be
where you need me
when you need me.

there's nothing i can do,
actually
except sometimes
a few dishes,
but i'm the one who knows
for sure
that there is life
after the heart
gets wrung out
completely
when tears feel like
the truest companion
and spring seems
so far off

all I can do
is remind you
gently
that seasons
always
change

Brother of my heart, Sister of my spirit

Dear Brother of my heart,
I'll never forget the sight of you
digging on the top of the hill,
intensely working, graceful and strong,
silhouetted against the brightest blue sky,
with the tops of the neighboring trees
swaying about your shoulders;
from my angle it looked like
you were very high up,
doing something
that would change the world.
I'll treasure the memory
of seeing your body
so at home
with the manual chore,
your spirit so at one
with your purpose.
It was a beautiful,
blissful feeling
to know I'm the reason
you worked hard
to plant a tender little bush.
Thank you.

Gentle Sister of my spirit
Thank you --
for me
that
was the rockiest ground
i ever dug
and there was no time
to waste
i was taken back
to summer jobs
to the archetypal dance
of picks and shovels
to feel again
the satisfying crunch
of pick
through stones and gravel
dirt packed hard
as bedrock
thrilled to the bone
to be the bond
between earth and you
grateful
beyond the stars
to see the eager
emotional energy
my little brother
your brilliant son
was bringing
to his chosen task
clearing your great garden
of aggressive weeds
all of us together
claiming
this humble
forest hilltop
for the family
of flowering
spirit

~~~~~~~~~~~

so this is how it goes between us
these channels entwine

this poem--
if you read it from the page
you find you hear my voice inside
the moment
you start to get my drift

right now
if you hear me speak these words
if you see me say them
if you read my voice
for further meaning
and find it

echoed feeling
shock of recognition
rebounds like sonar
to the dark glowing screen
of my heart

i image you from across
the spinning galaxy of the room

at last
this is where we meet
in the infinite space
between the lines
in the field
where visions
dance

~~~~~~~~~~~

beloved,
i lay my head
to pillow
to find
your fragrance there
transporting me
to moments
together
entwined
enraptured
unfolding
in love

i hold you
as promised
closely
in the quiet
feeling the glow
we know

i marvel
at the mystery
of touch unbroken
across time
and distance
my hand still
at the small
of your back
my cheek
always turning
to receive
the kiss
tenderly given

~~~~~~~~~~~