Autumn

thanksgiving morning-
a rafter of wild turkeys
wander through my yard

november frost-
a fresh dusting
of fallen leaves

Grace

sheets pooled on the floor-
the graceful swell of your hips
framed by the moonlight

lingering dawn-
one final kiss
graces your lips

Painting

an old masters hand-
long unused sable brushes
come back to life

hazy morning-
blobs of white
dot the hillside

Sand

hourglass summer-
memories of time we spent
slip through my fingers

driftwood-
a gull’s shadow
passes by

Sketch

black ink on paper-
oblivious passengers
riding the subway

a soft gong-
the model changes
position again

Weather

an incoming storm-
thunderclouds vent their anger
on an iron sea

hard driving rain-
waves break against
barnacled pilings

Bryant Park

laughter in the air-
mittens and scarves skating past
closed curio shops

bistro tables-
bohemian couples
on the grass

Firewood

stripped down to the waist
sledgehammer and splitting maul
ringing in the sun

hazy starlight-
woodsmoke drifts
through the trees

chirashigaki

an old shaking hand-
steady as it dips a brush
into the inkwell

autumn’s essence-
poems painted
on rice paper

Heat

a circle of flame
swirls deep inside the furnace
working overtime

rushing water-
the promise
of warmer feet