Morning

steel axe and wedges-
an awful lot of effort
for a pile of wood
–
first snow-
chipmunks bedded
in the wood pile

sheets pooled on the floor-
the graceful swell of your hips
framed by the moonlight
–
lingering dawn-
one final kiss
graces your lips

an old masters hand-
long unused sable brushes
come back to life
–
hazy morning-
blobs of white
dot the hillside

laughter in the air-
mittens and scarves skating past
closed curio shops
–
bistro tables-
bohemian couples
on the grass

a circle of flame
swirls deep inside the furnace
working overtime
–
rushing water-
the promise
of warmer feet

rising car exhaust
lifted on the morning breeze
before dissolving
–
the waning sun-
at the curb
idling

curling ocean waves-
the blackbird’s white feathered wings
touch an azure sky
–
glass dipped in frost-
a magpie taps
at my window

a stinging backhand-
the first truly cold fall day
greets me with malice
–
grey exhaust-
white plumes
of breath

incessant beeping-
cobwebs in my coffee cup
my head thick with sleep
–
gentle sunlight-
irish breakfast and
the sunday puzzle

wild racing thoughts-
my fix is the sleep I so
desperately crave
–
an open window-
coyotes call out
in the rising dawn