light green
empty branch arms  
turned away
  from the brown brick house
held in line
by the  gray
  edge stones
sinking  deeper into
Winter's drab slumber
biding time
until the dream of Spring's
budding promise
becomes a  solid future  
with a  stunningly
luscious wave
of hot pink
Hibiscus  flowers  
as a backdrop
to  the brown brick house
kept in check
by  gray edge stones
until  the petals drop
into the sneaky
Autumn sun  
and  desolation
sets up shop
in lonely green arms
again

I stand stunned
in awe
as you
sleekly shimmer by
in a fabulous flurry
of lustrous  lapis blue  
and jubilant  jade green
not sure where you are
headed
knowing that
wherever you wind up
glamour glides  
along as a
  constant companion

your absence
runs through me
in puddles
of mud
I long for your lightest
caress
just yesterday
sunlight mirrored
your crystal clear
intent
to dress me
in the
whitest
gossamer shimmers
desolate winds
now
rebuke my memories
the slightest  freezing rain
brings back
glimmers of hope
that our  brief  
entanglement
was no mere
fluke

slowly  settles  
over tall brick
cookie cutter houses
cornflower sky
  licks the swirly pink
cotton candy clouds
  leaves
the orange sherbet
horizon
ablaze
This day is all  done
except for  the sleeping .

this  Hell
of a  life lived
not so long ago
in the boxing
of articles
you may still need
some day
the cycle  will repeat  
as the dust is forming
today
is nearly yesterday.

I step into graffiti and strange smells
what if the cable snaps
plunging all my horizons
into instant nothing
I push the button
grumbling
what have I done
to deserve this end
my thoughts wander
as my eyes transfix
on the sudden light
of waiting faces behind opening doors.

space
just plain
gone
where you once
flaunted  your  beauty
is now mere grass
to be mowed
it’s been 2 long summers
since I last raced
to snap pictures  
before storm gusts
would shred
your  glory
year after year
they showed up
to  dress up this boring
little back dirt road  
those golden sunflowers
against a deep blue
Kentucky sky
haloed by tufts
of white pillowy clouds
inspired me
to prose and praise
I am no gardener
and cannot raise you
from the dead
summer solstice
now marks the day
I  start sadly gazing
through the space
you use to
occupy
and let out
  a weighted sigh

Sunshine dapples
  through
newly formed leaves
subtle breezes
stage
shadow puppet theater
all across
the neighbor's siding
to our  cozy
  room
with  a view

I  planted hope
by the bathroom window
last year
yellow soundless  bells
were doomed to fail
with no
drainage holes
they drowned
in rustic pots
leaving the  jasmine
to claim their sun.

Border patrol checkpoint
empty again
made our passports  obsolete
nothing
to declare anyway
lush greenery
barely changes
from country to country
overcast skies
precariously straddle
nations
ancient vineyards
still yield
magnificent drops
castles crumble
a little more everyday
not even the towering pines
can save them
moody melodies strum
around my head  
forever framing
this summer’s trip
just a little
differently
than the years
before.

Out of a swirl of nonsensical  
scenes jumbled
through my dreamscape
a man with no face
planted a deep kiss
on my lips
his urgency knocked me
out of my sheets
in the middle of the dark
aware only
of that aching gap
  sitting inside me
filled for a moment  
by a shadow man.

my  hound dog
she don't love me
she just loves
my
fingers of cheese

Autumn's orange
ambassadors
sprawled over
drab suburban corners
a feast of  seasonal glory
pumpkin patch fever
for all to behold
corn mazes
stump
so many  wanderers
thirsty for  the egress
fresh apple cider waits
just around
that perfectly placed hay bale  
to quash dry mouths
and energize
tired  feet
that  press onward
towards
winter’s dreary
debut.

Two years have passed since your last appearance,
way before  we got the camera,  
would’ve been great to catch your  exotic double life .

Your thick green arms reached  towards the blazing Texas sky,
pink  blossom fingertips  fearlessly  faced  the imperial red roses ,
while the yellow blossoms pointed towards a tangle of  overgrown pond grass.

We learned your name,
indulged in your subtle fragrance,
unparalleled by any man- made hand cream and
impatiently waited for the next round of double harvest.

Something  savaged your leaves, leaving you half barren,
forced to separate from  your *** mate, we hoped your widowed side would revive.

You’re back hosting those long lost yellow petals,
lopsidedly holding your own in front of the sprawling purple bougonvillia,
and the brazenly orange hibiscus bush.

A busy gnome now covers the scar,
so only we really know  that you didn’t always loll to the right.

I think you came back just to say goodbye.

in the distance
Really ?
today is July 6
a slight breeze flutters
through sweetly bedded petunias
my shirt waves freely
after a long  day
of  goodbye
your
battle wearied  body
in  limbo
every hug ,tear and laugh
your  legacy of love
spans  the globe
fills  rooms
with memories
and regrets
that clock
is not your friend
it ticks away
menacingly
marking the last moments
spent in our midst
seems
not that long ago
we all watched
firecrackers
together
on your front porch

of  this spring
surges  through
my veins
promise of sunshine
and rain
anticipation of pleasure
and pain
nourished
by the sweet life
lucky  harvest  of
earth born
strawberry delight
too soon  it's all over  
only stains
remain

when I popped the top
a burp of root beer
floated
pure caramel sass
then
time peeled backward
and followed
that first deliberate sip
to an exotic land
my small hands
reached  for the  treat
spread out before me
a cheeseburger in the desert
with the bottle next to it
just as brown
to wash it all down

Spring
coyly hid  
behind a snow skirt
twirling around trees
teased and taunted
pleased kids
filled with glee
for days  on end
then flaunted
as  they remained  school free
no respite really
as winter's will
named
snow storm Thor
hammered  down
all around
and temperatures
chilled  to nil
temptress Spring
finally
showed up again
pockets of mud  
her  calling card

I miss
so many
things

twinkling eyes
smiles for me
alone

hands held
anywhere

brash moves
pinned me
to the hall wall

passionate embraces
in the living room

morning light
splashed across
his face

good-bye
gangly night legs

hello again cold bed
with
blankets piled high

late  one November day
a dog eared page
from another  chapter
came alive
while crisp leaves  
swirled  and twirled
love
burst in
unannounced
so amazed
illuminated
fascinated
intrigued
complex
simple
the short list
fulfilled
can't catch my breath
afraid
brave
alive
pleased
impatient
out of my hands ,
into my  very core-
Welcome.

Gnomes out back who fuss and moan,
The weeds are too high they continue to groan,
I feel for them I really do,
But they know I am busy with so much too.
Ungrateful resin folk who cop an attitude about a few colorful sprigs,
Despite the fact they live in such lavish digs.
So some spiky ends of greenery may tickle their noses,
While they continue to hold their impish poses.
In fact I am planning a surprise for their flower bed,
Rainbow rock pebbles and new mulch will soon be spread,
Plus multiple squirts of ****-be-gone,
Next week you'll see a whole new lawn.
As I shell out more loot to keep this bit of paradise lovely-
I keep my eyes wide open for signs of impending mutiny.

She smiles wistfully and says
"another cheap year”
no more last minute
store runs
for golden Best Dad Oscars
tiny books of native wisdom
hastily painted  
sailboat pictures
boxes of gooey cordial cherries
packed with a huge
hand fashioned card
made at zero hour
proudly displayed at work
for all to see
the talent
of his baby

never made it
to a ****
fell for you  
on first nibble
now I am your  fool
have lived  without you  
for seven years too long
searched  high and  low
my face crumbles  again
no markets here
carry your  piquant
harvest

Come
and get it
big boy
so ready for pick up
give it the old heave **
it ain't no good
to me
just smellin up
my scenery.

perched
on the  wire
just above  the  bedroom window
your midnight  cackles
are not  welcome
my tired eyes
hope for sweet release
one stray
crackle
and it’s
lights out
  bird face

crawl
into bed
like a bear  
hibernation
  not far from my brain
want this  day
over and done
sweet solace desired
in warm repose
pull the covers
up to my ears
behind me
the snow
is pressing
itself
obscenely
against my bedroom window

with screen pulled  down
only  breezes not bugs
find refuge
in our stuffy bedroom
church bells chime
at the full hour
just before the train
cuts main street in half
sweet pup howls
in protest
of the conductor's
shrill whistle
crystal glassware shakes
in the cabinets
yet this old place
still stands.

Rain smacks down
on every inch
of the  walkway stones
the grout is cracked
in too many places
to count
jagged edges
rest in well worn grooves
the path still
faithfully leads
faces
to my front door .

warm
spring day stroll
next to those
nearly naked trees
their tiny leaf buds
that flanks both
the creamy
cloud swirled
dreamy light blue sky
and the pebble strewn  dirt
path
curving  through
the local cemetery
not far from the railroad tracks
near the creek
with the squeaky metal bridge
my neighbor's leashed
fierce little  ankle biter
marks his spots
between
the plots

Fresh flesh wants out
from under
ragged
itchy  scars
The time ‘s
gotta be just right
can’t just rip off
the dead stuff
don’t want to bleed
anymore
than necessary

is that where
you went
I ask aloud
because I’ve lost
track of you somehow
one evening
smack dab in the center
of a  ring of clouds
was a gaping blue  hole
it’s as likely
as any  place
for you to be.

Texas early night sky

nightstands
like deserted islands
next to rumpled bed

fake hibiscus in bloom
clipped onto curtains

favorite lip glosses
cradled in basket
on vanity sink

sparkly bead earrings  
displayed   in
see-through pockets
on stuffed closet door

silken blouse draped
on spare chair
awaiting an outing

candy wind  hibiscus
sways in the breeze
a playground for lizards

my face
when I realize
you are looking at me
handsome man

Fast winged
ruby throat-ed beauties  
meeting
for  sweet red nectar
on a cloud covered July day
in the rolling
Kentucky countryside
with a gazebo backdrop
from the perfect vantage
of a serene sun room
decorated in bamboo
and family memories

dying
to know how
you were stolen from
the light of day.