A Month After the Solstice

The sun stays longer.

The momentum of winter

Carries the dark chill.

Cold enough to drift,

Snow blows horizontally -

Carolina pines.

Fog in the dawn pines -

Next a gunshot from nowhere

Shatters the chill woods.

One crow weaves among

The drizzle-wetted pine trunks

In gray morning light.

The woods is dark brown

Cardboard beaten under tires

After winter rain

Spring day in Winter

Wasps beat against the window,

Quick black flames of hope

“Just one for diner?”

Welcomed the roadhouse hostess

Cold winter evening

Waiting’s the hardest:

Frozen pipes below the house

Will thaw with a gush.

Empty winter lake:

One sail, healed by the stiff gale,

Captures my desire.

Old track through bare woods

Still after 500 walks

Fun for dogs’ noses.

Snow patches linger,

Melting brightly in the sun:

Inauguration.

Most satisfying:

Dogs breath steaming in sunlight -

Winter morning walk.

Glimpsed by the highway

Through the chill holiday rain -

Wet backyard swing set

Freak hot Winter day -

Our neighbor’s Harley rumbles

His prostate healing

13 loons fishing

Amidst whitecaps & seagulls -

Loons dive, seagulls swirl.