History

bitter grievances
at the holiday table
long past time for peace

unrelenting
a winter river
choked with ice

Slumber

waiting for the thaw
beneath fallen leaves and snow
a box turtle sleeps

frosted windows-
deeply burrowed
under blankets

Mists

early morning haze
the pale tint of the full moon
just above the trees

first light-
the fog and I
rise together

Frigid

contemplating life
and remembering the dead
this cold winter night

the cutting north wind-
heavily laden with
bitter freight

Solstice

absent sounds of night
muffled by the blanket of
winter’s arrival

sudden snow
a southbound flight
interrupted

Hence

waiting for the train
a low mournful whistle drones
off in the distance

an iron sky
heavy snow falls
on distant peaks

New England

air laced with woodsmoke
thick with a rich silence as
the rain turns to snow

twilight
listening to
the snow fall

Faith

jewel in the lotus
tibetan prayer wheels turned by
cascades of water

a winter dawn
snow skates across
the temple threshold

Immediacy

ice over fresh snow
the delicate crust holds me
momentarily

warm green grass
a raindrop rolls
down my cheek

Crimson

the low morning sun
behind a red crepe myrtle
it’s branches aflame

fresh snow
blowing alight the coals
of last nights fire