Change

lost in the mirror-
years collecting on the floor
‘neath the barber’s chair

wading-
knee deep
in the past

Broke

a cold water flat-
the pilot light on the stove
sputters and goes out

new year’s eve-
the rent check
overdue

Morning

the soft light of dawn-
dim street lamps gutter above
aging cobblestones

threads of smoke-
last nights embers
turn to ash

Marshland

unexpected snow-
an onshore breeze silently
stirs the bulrushes

ebb tide-
snow falls gently
on the salt marsh

Moonlight

bright mid-winter stars-
your alabaster shoulders
dressed by the ghost moon

rumpled sheets-
asleep intertwined
blanketed by the moon

Origami

the senbazuru-
origami alchemy
brings my cranes to life

parchment skin –
rice paper slowly
creased and folded

Morning

hard edged and soulless-
the treacherous dawn comes to
spirit you away

softly closing doors-
again I awake
to an empty bed

Blizzard

february wind-
red cheeks burning from a cold
slap across the face

digging out-
melting snow
mingles with sweat

Birds

horizontal snow-
sparrows visit my feeder
heedless of the storm

rime crusted wings-
a short respite
on my lilac

Leaves

dry and brittle leaves-
remnants of an early fall
captive in the snow

crisp white linens-
leaves tumble
in the wind