Nights are lengthy,
days seem shortened
moonlight madness
gives way to sway
of misty morning,
dawn's early light

pure beauty ...
innocence intrigues
winter's woodland
wears her
white laced shawl,
snow dressed ...

unlikely, unusual
friends nuzzle

if only humans
could, would arrange
to solve the puzzles
of night and day

he wanted
  to know
    if it hurt

when I fell
  out of
    the sky

he saw
  stardust in
    my eyes

then said
  I was
     heaven
        sent

we danced in minefields
swam through ocean currents
wrestled with rapids,
sailed calmer seas
in our old vessels ...
yours gave out;
reluctantly I paddle on
until my final far horizon
comes into view, then ...
I will look for you

Amber ribbons
in a flaming sunset ...
I think of your eyes aglow,
heart aflame when you loved me        

we walked hand in hand
on blonde sandy shorelines as
persimmon suns faded        
into romantic nights,
memories evoked
whenever I see
mesmerizing  
amber ribbons

cherish the light, walk toward it
I'll hold your heart in the palm
of my hand, love you to the moon
and back ... take mine to you
let's enjoy the magic
of our togetherness
        y
           e
             t
dreams of you envelop me
you'll never know how much ...
if you leave you'll not know
the depths of my love ...
it's protection for my spirit
        b
           u
              t
I won't hurt you by revealing
what is buried deeply in the secret
recesses of my inner core
although I love you more
than I can say
        't
           i
              l
then I hope the mystique,
the magic of our togetherness
lasts for our lifetime
I don't want to live
without it, without you.

When garnet sunset
dances across a panorama
ribbons of fire aflame
add to the drama
majestic, splendid
as hot molten lava
then too soon concludes
the sun's samba

I hear empty rooms where children once played
I see empty corrogated boxes they pretended were cars, trains, boats
I feel the prickly pine needles of the tree they planted
I smell that same six foot tall Pine Tree fragrance and I smile
I taste, in memory, baby food breath when one of my babes kissed me
It is with humble pride I view all five, oldest and youngest, men,
          bookends to three women, my two sons and three daughters.