Don’t mistake the rain soaked valley with hard paved streets, people entranced by things. Below the cracked sidewalks roadside trees push out their roots, thickening,

It won’t take long to remove the broken, clean the streets and fill the sidewalks with carefree shoppers. We can go about our business dressed

The other world signals with blankets of snow, quieting the noise in moments of peace. Not to be outdone cars roar back to life and

Iron morning, steel gray skies, crows on the rooftops. I’m not seeking, only waiting, pressed under winter’s hand. I eat and drink with silent armies,

Morning under clouded skies, the longest night passed in the slow turn toward brighter days. Aldebaran leads Orion through the winter arc as I pursue

The tangle of roots in mud and clay hold the impossible height swaying above the rooftops. I burrow down in what’s left of imagination, clawing

Quietly he gathers attention to the still point within, a candle flame brightening the inner sanctuary where life force pulses. His roots of awareness drink

After the burden of travel I return to the evergreen valley with winter light along the rim. Without wonder the soul becomes weary, needing the

In early dawn hours the moon sets in the west, Venus alight in the eastern sky. Perhaps I’m foolish to become so joyful yet I

The skies are clouded but beyond the layers of gray and black starlight and a moon I cannot see. I travel knowing but not knowing

Christmas 2023 The long night lengthens on a rain swept evening, blessed dark as wanderers from afar we traverse the city. Estrangement from the sacred

The waters of life flow across the wheel of time bringing change and resolve. While the horrors of war plague the silent earth yearns to

The trees are a problem, their roots lifting sidewalks to the autumn sky and my complaints bitter with the choices between hardness and life. I

Poets of grief multiply in the killing fields, transcribing bitter fruit. Who am I to speak of ancient earth, life beyond the terrible sadness? Perhaps

Gathering slowly Earth welcomes the fallen leaves of autumn, golden brown in their descent. Summer’s harvest for winter stew, heated in the dark cauldron. I