Ashen grey, weathered wood
splintered, white bone
hollowed by the desert sun
skull and backbones
laid to rest, wind blown
sunk in sifting sands, exposed
by wet washing squalls
drinking water into steam
interwoven, dead with weeds
iridescent beetles and scorpions
glints of pyrite, diamond stones
the haunting wind, that moans
wild through hollows and holes.

You are a traveler of the South lands
brown, a leathered skin coyote
desert walker of the Sonoran sands
crafty, black magic witch
a shaman, lucid dreamer
Yaqui Indian spell weaver
of visions, of paintings in the sand
mixing colors, peyote flowers
red, the melting of the aloe bowers
dark blood, the blooming agave towers
thick with snakes, the fire and hiss
that burns black of sacaton grass
the quiver and flash of flying sparks
igniting night, time traveling to the stars.

Strange glowing orb
mystical magnetic oracle
points us aimlessly
in and out of love
pushes and pulls
the tide, spellbound
sea wrecked, sandbarred
left high and dry
deep in the night
foolish we, two
fools of moon

Cool winds circling round, deep emerald ocean pond,
in dancing waves you play salty summer songs
of weathered boats and rustic harbor homes.
Seagulls perched about the lawns, some on rooftops peering down
flower baskets overfilled, spilling mad their colors on the ground.
A vacant nest amid the vines so twisty, Springtime birds have all flown
leaving remnant feathers of shell and bone.
Seaweed floats, it clings, wrapped to posts and rings
ocean otters sleeping sound at bay
in a sky of blue, changing hues
soon drifts away the day.

In an earth bound dream
found bare and green
blue between moss and splendor
cool and cold, our hands and toes
wild eyed through the mud we climb
these darkened steps
beyond the stars
returning home
to rest our souls
brief a dream before
the sleep of
our rebirth.

I was a cherry tree - I dreamed
with evening birds, their words, singing home to me
The light of moon did come, and cool the sun went sleeping
trees and blades of grass, so green the Spring
void of willows weeping
Beyond the hills, fragrance fills
night's sultry air
awakes me

Here in this redolent rain droplets saturate the ground
I watch the clouds move on, then once more the sun to come
this sparkling desert is strewn with tiny diamond stones
the air hangs in petrichor, thick with chaparral
birds drink from puddles in the broad agave leaves
rainwater trickles with steam in the sun of the singing trees
songs of doves coo cooing in the desert mesquite
spiny lizards stop for rest and warmth upon the rocks
they are ancient with tiny rounded teeth
for eating flashing bugs and beetles
here beneath the spindly ocotillo
beneath the pale flowered saguaro, that blooms
amid this ocean of sandy seas
of cool nights and hot breathed days
the way the desert breathes.

Fast her wild days ran tall as forest foxglove,
long the happy sun of wing full prayers and beating drums
grassy knees ripening green on summer's lawn
honeycombed hideouts of laughing stings and bees
running long through wild meadows
pale of butter's milky cream
a child's face soft as flower petals
so quick to bud into full bloom
blushing in her rosy days
a swan soon flies to the wild unknown
there where an hourglass looks on

In the night garden, star flowers linger
long before dawn, before the sun
vines climb, with ivory flowers hung
bringing light, where the moon glows pale
flowered jasmine is sweet beneath the air of fire
with lanterns lit in floral scents
glowing through diaphanous petals
here, where the earth shines like heaven
and blooms not unlike the stars.

From the high cliffs a rugged landscape swept, dropping to the sea
windy clouds, gray rain soaking tiny flowers, waiting for the sun
smokey town so far off, walking farther on

A weathered, rocky place high above this world, climbs a path to stars
with twinkling eyes of sky, where night collides with sea
a traveler, seeking refuge from the shallows
rests her head, soft upon a grassy pillow

A warm wind to caress, sails away the day
drifts quietly her dreams - slipping underwater
where seaweed clings, to pearly rings of sleepy siren's bells
in echoing shells no darkness dwells
in the heart of forgiveness

Tonight in this garden
a million flowers loom
clouds of gypsophila bloom
through our window and beyond
with fragrant vines, they sprawl
saturate scented paper walls
these night lilies, only a dalliance
that blooms and fades
your hands, my breath of sighs
we are drunk from dulcet wine
sung from the whisper of moon that dips
caress of your reddened lips
traveling this world
lilting softly slow

That time in summer's red, the hilly sands I climbed
willow grass woven white with yarrow, fragrantly entwined
my eyes softened in sea drift's tide, of puddled shallows
ocean sang in rising waves, wild sea kelp tangled
sun slept scarce hours, it's shining seaward beams
that only leave as the final silhouette
vanishes into night's dream

Last night, so enlightening
the full flower moon, illuminating
somehow brightening our words
the sun had gone, taking only the birds
leaving the sky of red mars, the alluring stars
you and I, naked traipsing through the woods
the blazing moon of firelight through the trees
a splendorous love potion, we drank the night, celestially

gentle water ripples
snow of falling flower petals
soft the landing of your lips
we merge like clouds in dream
become one, learn to breathe in sync

No more to swim in your bluest seas, farewell my dear Pacific,
long did you sustain a myriad of lives, true unimaginable bounty,
you gave all for free and still we stole your life away.
Goodbye salty sea air, no more to breathe your sweetness.

Soon a plume shall come, raining poison death upon us,
watch for wicked winds of radiation,
to silent creep, and deadly seep into
soil and irrigation, you mustn't eat
of tainted wheat, now flee thee to
south of the equator.

The furniture was Oaxacan wood
finished in plum, red blood
with brightly painted finials
haunting little animals

a lazy, creaking fan
whirred on, above
in gasping bursts, too tired
to cool the room
and only moved
the paper bougainvilleas
glowing - orange, peachy, red

my feet, ever ecstatic to meet
the cool of clay saltillo tiles
red faced, happy to have escaped
into this mirage,  my one thought
being margaritas

Fun house hallways
fell you in tumultuous upheavals
Inner child life denials
Crooked smiling rooms, left for your weeping
Leaky faucets poured you - sinking
Feet that stuck to sticky floors, your heart of hide and seeking

Back where I used to roam
beyond the mulberry hills
running from sudden black storms,
torrential August monsoons
soaked thoroughly through

Oh, to be a motherless child of the hills, again
quick to dance away the depths of lonely
always looking to the sea for distraction
and possibility

After a storm, I listened for life
how the hilly flowers shined, alive with bees
the birds and buzz all about the field
in a world, that was everything real to me
and made all the difference, in knowing
what it was to be free

While glints of gold skimmed the horizon
I'd dry my shoes in the last hour of the sun
dreaming to live right there, where I belonged
dreading the long dragging back home

Somewhere in a dream
in other countries, never mapped, a man was speaking
though I did not understand, there was never any plan
and I listened to the wind and rain upon the trees.
With no church bells to ring, and birds were the chorus
There in the forest, a silent steeple stood standing on it's own
now a wild bird's home, wrapped in thorny vines
a crown that stained, red berries bled upon my hands.
Mary was there too, she was looking through
a broken window pane, whispering my name
and too, the forest sang, bathing me in love
and with the birds I flew, silently into
a deeper dream, until I woke at dawn
to fragrant flowers on the lawn
remembering such heaven.

Winds cannot whittle away this morning, blowing through my waking window
sweet, they only sing me from sleep and bring to me, birds I've heard in other dreamy dawns.
Joyful, thinking of friends to meet, along the streets or on soft summer lawns,
watching - like a magic trick, waiting for surprise,
now orange, pink, red upon my bed,
a world of dazzling skies!

Under what true blue sky, are hell's shelled missiles fired?
On the other side, no picnic apple pie, summer sunsets

In our firecracker skies we remember to forget

For them, they'll be no strawberry rows ripening on the vine
or swimming pool party slip and slides
Children of war are born to die.




please can humans stop this some day

Where sleeps the crescent moon
and drifts bright stars away
to bring a song of light
glowing from a thicket there
where tawny birds take flight
or dappled in the wooded trees
foggy breathes the morning light
with rousing sounds of faeries there
drowsy in their dreaming cares
they bid farewell unto the night
and to stars that sail swift into
the evanescent light.

Now springs another day from this woodland place
soft with mossy grays or starry lichen lace
green the leafy ferns will wake
with scented rains wet upon the bark
incense cedars drift and swirl
sweet, the air of smoke
until alas the sun so brilliant comes
from behind a clouded cloak
and disappears once more
the dawn that softly spoke.

The hills tumbling, daisy stemmed, a floating sea of wild flowers,
white petaled, beaches and waves in rolling summer meadows.
Clouds come, caressing long summer grasses,
blowing sweetly fields, scented warm
before the rain

Thistle crowned flowers cracked, a tiny finch, splitting seeds
swift before the storm, soon flies afar to leafy trees
awaits again the golden summer
of the sun

Cedar tree, your arms wild in the wind
red bark, blue rain that comes again
storm drenched, looking where we've been
sponge mud footprints, left herein
and in the gold of days there is incense, sunning
warmth soaking the green forest in
a path leading outward
that leads back in
whispers awaken the
soul within

Over the rooftops, windows and treetops - came sun
summer magenta, morning of skies will come.
Singing in silvery shadows, hummingbird drinking in penstemons
a day dappled in sun and sun, til evening late in brightest moon to light this earthly dome.
All the yesterdays sailing on, beyond the dark and stars.
How fast and far to roam, all the days
that come and come.

It came hollow as carved bone and cold
strange as moon glow shrouded in mists of fog
it blew breathless, deep as darkest space, unnamed
with towering waves, it came
crashing silent upon the earth and sea
Sun stars melted.
Who will light candles for them?
For whales, seals and the
fallen humans?

Polished stone, bare *****- rafters loomed above
silent owls swooped, black before the dawn
red wood carved with sorrow's blood
masks to hide behind - some never found
So swift to pass upon the earth
ashes, silence underground
Diego painted the Santa Catalina's
mountains now hung upon a wall
have found him glorious
in the lost barrio

In this world
starry eyed, we bloom
petals silk your lips, sing
sweet violet songs to me
a drifting scented dream
blue sea of you and me

Deathly quiet all the sky, distant black, pitching
birds, sudden screeching turns, disappearing
windows rattled, beneath banging shutters
awaiting the pain of centrifuge
a house, like glass to shatter
shards of cutting winds

Soon the desolate sun peeked above table mesa road
mourning dove awoke the nomadic dawn
cloudless day,  blue in all directions
lizards, little flashes emerged from earth in green iridescence
horned beetles crawled in blue shimmering suns
orange petals, monarch wings warmed
with tiny birds, did flit before
the red desert dawn.

Your eyes are blue water
subterranean caves, swimming

you are the sun moving across summer fields
daisies always dancing toward your feet

an uprooted child, replanted
you flourish in earth and sky

dirt black hands in loamy soils
deeply rooted from the core

your salty, sweet red apple lips
are orchard fruits and fields to kiss

your arms hold worlds of weight
they are fragrant flowers, embracing grace

gentle as wings touching still waters
you are rainfall, washing
true as water

Celestial, indigo
sparkling stars of fire
molten rings of planets round
the silent sailing clouds
float across a sallow moon
hung in a sky of glittered jewels
diamonds, opals, pearls

Giant skyward leaning
shedding leaves, do you dream long
of summer's greening?

The gold of days have waned
the gray rains sway
fall will leave you
cold in winter's lay.

Seemingly a thousand years old
a seedling sown
born of an ancient
maple forest.

Buoyant snowflakes sideways crashed
dripping down grey window glass,
stinging winds blew harsh - the lash
of winter.

High in pines, do they shiver,
nesting birds deeply hidden?
or
do they warmly slumber,
with downy feathers, nestled under,
night's darkest cold, before
the light of dawn?

Tree, I have come to shelter and with the rain to weep
I am soaked, barefoot, with mud running through
soft the moss, cool and cold
to soothe my heart that bleeds.
Our waxing nights of love and moons
now fallow, a field that burns
****** our hollow bed
of haunting, silent screams
too soon the fiery devil
too far my lover
the spring.

The afternoon sky with its wine dark clouds
red blushed and blue, moments before the rain drenching greys
the scurrilous skies, the black winged silhouettes that fly
amid the cactus trees, thick with chaparral
a total reconstruction of sunny soft memories
this cold tumbling storm that moves overhead
to form, this desert raining lake.

Clear water, drinking in - earth soaked
purple violets and fiddle head ferns
cold bulbs and garden tubers, buds and flowers unfurl.
The mating clash of birds, their chirpy squawks and words
an aromatic lilac trance in a variance of blue.
Grass and toes, cool and cold
northern winds of spring.

When I am a thousand miles away
and you are seemingly a million more
here where I trade the sun for rain
dwell in the intermittent patches of grey
I distract myself in gardens green
study madala art of spider weaves
decaying, diaphanous maple leaves
the cool of wet mud wriggling around my toes
and yesterday the black birds watching me
disturbingly, the cawing crows
and I could hardly think or speak
as I dialed you long distance on the phone.

Water trickling, grooved patterns of bark
darkening drinking up
Bright yellow creeping
maple leaves losing green
fallen or hanging on

A wind gust
little rush of swirls
tiny leaves come to rest -
wakes the nightjar
from her evening nest

Wet wings, flickers fly
stellar jay looks on,
Roses withered, ages gone
petals on the
ground

When I travel far from crowds
find myself grey, in the raining clouds
I run far into the cedar woods
of green and mossy loam
with birds, I fly from storms
deep in a world
sweet with maidenhair ferns
soft the moss, to touch
as newborn rabbit's fur
many the hour
under sparkling trees
of yellow maples glistening
the chirping words, of smallest birds
that I can never see
echo sweet, I dream and sleep
sink into perfect peace
beneath the rainforest canopy

Sailing on the star streams reaching past the trees
looking for reflection in moons of lily seas

Crossing wild oceans of tumbling rocky waves
that toss me in the air, with no direction leading, spinning me away

Til in a dream I find you, last night so calm the water, smoothed my fever
lovely kisses rang, fragrant music ever sweetly sang

Until I wake to find, morning brings a crashing wave
you've sailed, swiftly fading from a silken dream

Today all the linden trees shrouded in black, no flowers only death, so quiet crept
killing summer bees, that can no longer sing - of honey flowers afield
death crying at the door, their silence praying to be heard
and still unthinking man poisons our fragile world

Strange music shook the mourning hour - waking
crash landing dreams, my sleepy ways forsaken
Til under other slumber I fell
to walk a lilting lake, green lily pads to float me
White petaled boats, lotus watery bloomed
other worlds sailed my dreaming room
strange music froggy
deeply toned