November's End

Gray gauze tangles in tree tops 

on the valley bottom I swim through

almost-droplets air.

Overcast

Gray ice vapor lid 

clamped all round 

the rim of this earth bowl

sun is a nickel of iridescence

low in the southeast.

Walking

tup - hard boot heel landing

sqwiiiitch - forefoot rotating on wet gravel

tup...sqwiiitch, tup...sqwiiitch

tup...sqwiiitch, tup...sqwiiitch

and while one foot is tup...sqwiiitch-ing

the other foot and leg swing, swing

forward and... down, tup...sqwiiitch

remember to breath, no - breeeath!

remember to let the arms swing

tup...sqwiiitch, tup...sqwiiitch, tup...sqwiiitch, tup...sqwiiitch

Shadow Theater

Against white snow

silhouette doe step steps

between paper cutout pines.

Snuggle

Black kitten’s weight in my left hand

rumble against my ribcage

angora softness - his head 

tucked under my chin.

Purring fades, head drops -

sleeping kitten is no easier to put down.

Layers Before the Sun

Skating above the ridge

swift pearl gray cloud rags

high beyond, still, ominous

steel gray cumulous.

Except

An hour ago the sun 

rolled over the ridge

melting frosted fields

except 

downbeam of the  ponderosa

where every amber stalk

stands crystal cased.