Smith

muscle and sinew-
soot stained and glistening from
the heat of the forge

shimmering heat-
the cold ring of
hammer on steel

Wind

a cool morning breeze-
silver waves ripple across
unmown fields of grass

gulls over the beach-
cattails bowed to
the rising sun

Commuter

walking from the train
a soft rain begins to wash
off the day’s burdens

eyes closed-
rocked to sleep
among strangers

Campfire

telling ghost stories-
embers on the rising smoke
mixing with the stars

distant howls-
another log
feeds the fire

Desert

sedona night skies-
a desert scorpion crawls
across my bedroll

campfire-
embers rise to greet
the desert stars

Rainfall

weeping cherry trees
pink and white blossoms sodden
with the sudden rain

spring rains-
dogwood blooms
floating by

Mother

just before sunrise-
my tea steeps as a vixen
calls out to her kits

plumes of breath-
a young doe
hides her fawn

Desert

a whole life reduced
to two dust covered and scuffed
satchels by her feet

cold desert night-
the tent offers
poor respite

Villages

cobblestone sidewalks-
birds nest in the thatch roofs of
tudor cottages

spring afternoon-
warm hours spent
deadheading roses

Color

late afternoon breeze-
a cardinal feeds his mate
seeds from my garden

morning sunlight-
dogwood brides
dressed in white