Flat Gray Overcast

The sun is a diffuse disk
tinged blue at the bottom
white through the center
orange at the top.

Obstacle

The wind has torn the roof
from the neighbor's knocked together woodshed
thrown it upside down blocking the muddy lane
a rectangular carcass of corrugated steel
its 2x4 ribs exposed to the storm.
“Dad will have to more that,” I say to our son
negotiating the path to the bus.
Walking home through the woods above
I hear my husband grunt
as he lifts one edge, and tips it up
lets it fall -- SPANG-CLASH!
up against the road bank.
The truck door slams
the motor purrs on out the lane.

Tulips Begin

Thumb length spears 

burgundy and green

dare the bitter air

above hard-to-heel earth.

Friend Request

My wary friends the seven does

bound tails high across our path

across the fence lines and fields

crossing to the year-round creek,

the last doe spins back to the trees.

Returning, I pass below her on the hill.

She eyes me dubiously as I call 

“Good morning, pretty lady!”

Over my shoulder I can see she’s gone

back to grazing - probably my words

are nothing more to her than noise,

less than a marmot’s call

less than a nuthatch’s beeping.

Breakfast Grapes

On the oak table boards

green globes

swallowing the sun.

Ponderosa Power

Walking a deer path 

through elder pines, 

pause, pivot a mindful circle 

greeting tree after tree 

“You are giving me energy!

Thank you,

thank you!”

"Good Morning, Ladies!"

On the snowy, boulder strewn hillside 

seven does return my observation.

Are they the same seven I saw yesterday?

And are they mule deer or whitetails?

And how have I lived into my sixth decade

without learning to tell the two apart?