Oak and Elm and Redbud trees
stand stark against winter sky
long ago shed their leaves
their bony fingers reach high.

Waiting patiently for warm days
they tend their souls in soil
they teach us a hundred ways
to dig deep for spirit oil.

Winter’s a time to dwell inside
look in dark corners there
for what we’d rather hide
invite it up for a bit of fresh air.

Above the hardened world I see a cloud
white edges soft but dark pervades its heart
beside the brook a stone so bright and proud
her striking beauty makes her stand apart
I bow my fingers wrap around her waist
I lift her from her lesser comrades there
I touch the smoothness of her face
her sheen and curving lines without compare
I want to take her home with me to keep
I pause and hear the moving gurgling brook
and cast her back into the liquid deep
I hear her splash and take a final look
     And with her loss I feel a tiny grief
     but smile I touched her being oh so brief

Deep in winter
the cold seeps to the bones.
Has the warmth of love gone
lost in another season?

It seems time’s pace is slow
fervor and inspiration
low or hidden well
beneath dead leaves
where grieves
my heart now
for not lingering
in the sweet glow
and smooth surface
the pausing pace
of serenity.

The wizened old man told me -
sustain the weary with a word
for many a one has none
to bring love and light
into the blight of their dreary days.

I asked which word
and through a wan smile
he said - you figure it out.

I have spent so much energy, time and money
avoiding pain
not realizing that it is a gift
its own reward
only earned
by enduring it
securing it
surrender
work
effort
sacrifice.

Can’t get it just by sitting
watching
resting
talking.

But I can earn it
by listening
abiding
patience.
The crime
is not taking time
pain is earned
with time spent
with the climb
into someone’s tortured heart.

Pain must not be spurned
it must be earned.

You were so far down the list
it was hard to find you
buried there among news items
groups begging
ads egging
service notices glaring
poets sharing.

I almost couldn’t find you
my love
and when I did
my phone kept blinking  
notifications
wanting my fixation.

Oh how easy it is to forget you.

My love gets buried…
yet that love is what keeps me awake and alive.
Diving deep into you refreshes my soul
like nothing else.

We were both feeling a small joy
at some long-awaited good news
our conversation crept in a soft light
but then you drifted
into your dark valley of anger and angst,
life circumstance
overtaking you like a black cloud
full of rain and lightning.

The momentum of this moment
****** me into your pain
but how could I choose otherwise
and still say I love you?