Waiting

in twenty-two years
from now I pray I’ll still be
waking next to you

in anticipation-
dreaming of
our old age

Silence

the dragonfly’s drone
suddenly silenced when it
alights on my palm

stillness-
the dragonfly
landed

Tides

slow ocean waves
push the gathering sea foam
gently into shore

murmuring-
the ocean whispers
to the shore

Backwater

ancient banyan roots
a lounging snapping turtle
basks in the sunlight

bayou roots-
the sun warms
a lazy turtle

Decency

there is no debate
we should be doing what’s right
not just what’s easy

morality is
happily doing
the hard work

Patience

my heart held hostage
as a testament to your
faith in my return

waiting-
my heart
as collateral

Caution

semaphore flags snap
high in the ominous sky
double back and red

a tempest-
warning flags
flying high

Fragility

an arc of limestone
scoured by the desert wind
carved by passing time

balancing rock-
sculpted by wind
and time

Cover

an unseen rabbit
eyes the fox suspiciously
from beneath the hedge

hidden-
the rabbit spies
a hungry fox

Wane

the cricket’s refrain
raspy in the evening woods
fades as the night falls

evening woods-
crickets fade
as midnight nears