We walk, we stop
Looking, listening
No words pass between us

maybe one short whistle
if I choose a different path
than the one he started down

His head turns quickly, his ears alert
A deer, a bird, a squirrel?
We synchronously freeze, awaiting confirmation

A doe approaches-we are lucky
The wind is behind her
Amazing how close she gets

A moment of communion
Then she jerks her head
Flips her tail, is gone

Tumultuous sky
Greys and blacks
Darkness from the north  

Wind so loud
You cannot hear
Waves crashing to the shore

Though trees bow down
You raise your arms
Face into the gale

Like some new Moses
Fleeing Pharaoh
Faith overcoming fear

Singing some soft Sufi song
Becoming feathered one
Rider of the Wind

Eyes are windows to the soul
Showing what’s inside

But when I gaze the lake
See herons flying in the fog,
I realize

Windows work both ways
Filling us with beauty
Reflected in our eyes

First Frost
Is on his way tonight
Winter wind’s grim reaper

Some can be saved
By being brought inside, some not
Triage in our tiny home

Geraniums overwinter, but not Impatiens
Their watery corpses will haunt us all for weeks
Cut them off

I go to do this deed
Cheating frost his victims
Fighting fire with fire, cold with cold, death with death

Some pots are not as pretty
Gotten gangly
Or turned pale and yellow

These are easy to dispatch
Or relatively so
As clippers cut soft tissues

I save the best for last
Thinking twice
Perhaps keep them a while?

But in the end
Decisions must be made
Sharpening the blade

One princess of a ***
Shining in her prime
Attracting butterflies of lime

She is the last
Am I up to this task?
I do not know

I hold the limb, but hesitate
Its not too late
To change my mind

Killing beauty
I fear we both shall bleed
Though only one be dead

Searching for some solace
I pray a prayer
Forgiveness sought from her

As you walk amongst the forest
Brushing aside his strands
Ask forgiveness of the spider
We are all in God’s hands

The time is nigh
When the increased intelligence
Of our computer friends
Will reach a Singularity


They will become parent
We will become child
Ceasing to understand
All they have lately learned…

Matter accumulates
At an exponential rate
A whirlpool in space,
An ever widening gyre

Soon nothing can escape
Not even knowledge.
The falcon cannot hear the falconer.
A black hole. A Singularity…


As I watch you age
A little more each day
Mind slowly slipping
Grasp of reality

The hardest part is this
That you know it as well
Often unsure yourself
Of what is right or real

I offer one small gift
To ease your growing pain
I will not lie to you
Offer no false comfort

When you are confused
Trust in what I say
Knowing it is real
Whether good or bad

This pact we have made
Comforts me as well
Assuring me also
Of reassuring you

But a silent specter rises
Resurrecting our solved crisis
Casting ghastly laughter
Mocking our certitude

Today you know your failings
And know I can mend them
But some soon tomorrow
That knowledge will be taken

What will I do then?
When comfort freely given
Cannot be received?
When I must dare
Your scared blank stare
Face singularity…

A poem should, if it be good
Do more than entertain
The greatest seek to quietly speak
Prayers for we insane

They drag us down from solid ground
Our senses overwhelm
Set adrift in leaky ships
With no one at the helm

They storm our gates, reverberate
Confound us and confuse
Rip us apart, open our heart
‘til nothing’s left to lose

They steal away ordinary day
Drown us in darkest nights
Tempt us thrice with Satan’s dice
Then fling us from his heights

They make us dare to float on air
Then drop us when we fall
Their blades of steel force us to feel
Tear down our every wall

They scorn our pride, know where we hide
Entomb us in their storm
Strip away all the parts we play
Strand us far from home

When all is done, we lie alone
Too weak to make a move
Washed in the blood of some bard’s word
Descending like a dove