Burden

leaving my baggage
there’s far too much to carry
along this journey

the river left behind-
ewer water
darkens the road

Harvest

freshly cropped farmland
the western sky glows amber
over the harvest

the setting sun-
threshed chaff
in the wind

Stone

a dusting of snow
years of footfalls revealed in
the worn granite steps

an old slate roof-
heavy snow piles
up on the eaves

Illusions

folding the laundry-
I struggle with the mundane
while fame eludes me

feeding the birds-
a passing peacock
opens his tail

Run

running through the woods
peep frogs fall silent as I
pass by unannounced

frozen breath-
the sun rises
to greet me

Fire

black potbellied stove-
the evening’s load of firewood
stacked up along side

stars in the sand-
our fire stoked
by the ocean breeze

Leaves

autumn afternoon-
driving home in the dark past
drifts of wind blown leaves

light snow-
a swirl of
amber leaves

Thirst

palm leaves shade the sand-
reclining in a chaise lounge
drinking in the sun

salt air-
margaritas
whet my dreams

Welcome

strange and foreign shores-
weary travelers embark
on their next journey

soft underbrush-
a fawn turns to the
welcoming sun

Smoke

gauzy hardwood smoke
rises into the night air
obscuring the moon

drifting embers-
folding chairs
around the fire