Modest beauties
whose creamily dabbed
orange, pink
and
yellow blossoms
despite tender care
rendered
died this spring
a speckled lizard
lurks inside
their empty talavera ***
next to the cheap blue
sun umbrella
that blows over
with every breeze.

Who shows up
no matter when
to help
anyone in need
precariously perched
clementines
are a danger
she clearly
foresees
this  noble hound
lies dreamily by
spotty snout
twitching
mesmerized by
sweet citrus treats
aching for deliverance

I use to read mysteries
with such  glee
Nancy Drew always
found the clues  
whodunits
wrapped up
in x amount of pages
with wailing police sirens
hauling
some miscreant off
just before that  last page is turned
whereas my story’s end
is still
Nowhere
in plain sight.

I use to know  
is long gone
dripped off
the blade ‘s
first stroke
blood stains
never  washed
away
just covered
with  steel.

1.Downpour

Rain submerges
every patch of back yard
greedy drains divert
suburban rivers towards
concrete paths
barely skirting
pool and pond
another layer of paint
washes off stunned gnomes.


2. A Mini Vacation

from the blazing sun
allows the chaste tree
to push out it’s long overdue
blooms with a view.


3. Cloud Cover

Gray drizzles through my day
letting only the flowers
lap up
hidden sunshine.

no longer relevant
noisily devoured  
by a gaping hole
stuffed to capacity
then shoveled
into a bin
marked for permanent exile
an anonymous
paper trail
that use to lead
to my life.