Into the Wind

The spray at the bow
of the ship freshens my face
on this day of sailing into  a wind

that has no trace of regret
but lifts me up:
as a bouy in the night

with a fuse for light
charged by the sun-
eternally grateful

for a way to find my way
even when the hull is damaged
and there are no stars
to guide me home. 

Perfect

Deep inside everyone
there is a breath
waiting to be taken

by a breeze
that moves
hard and so clean
against everything
and is perfect
for drying clean sheets
and is perfect
for children running
and laughing out loud
and perfect

for building a life
filled with so much ease and joy.

Like the Worms Do

Taste the earthiness
of this day
like the worms do

Mortar between
the sunrise
and the setting
that will rise
in the night.

Dress in a gown of stars
made by your mother,
perfect in every way,

and dance
as if tomorrow
was only
a dream.

Grit
between
your hungry
teeth
devouring
each moment
as a sweet gift.

Dharma Punx

In the garden
the chill of August arrives
after the fever of summer
put us all into the sleepy haze
of forgetting the sinew and bone
of winter's stark mornings
where sea ice creeps onto shore
and builds castles
with the frosty tongue
of solstice.

Golden globes of tomatoes are popped
into my mouth for dinner.
Green beans are tucked into the front
of my daring black tee shirt
that reads
"Dharma Punx"
and makes me feel stronger

for meditating
on beginnings
and endings of breath

and these thoughts
at the seams long days
running into long nights
and the sculpted arms
and smooth lines of legs
that will pose prettily
and stretch
to do all they can
to finally make me whole.

Journey of Discovery

Tell me about solitude
and I will invite you to visit

ferry yourself across the morass
on the raft I left on the other shore
just in case I needed a friend.

The moat I have dug
around my foundation
crumbles in quiet confusion.
Not even a mouse dares
to scale these walls
fearing the earth
will melt
under her feet
causing her to fall
victim to these dark waters.

I am alone
waiting for a story
about recovery,
redemption,
or something
that looks like love
to sail her ship
toward these shores
unafraid of what
the journey of discovery
might bring.

Breaking Glass

Skate or glide with light
the waves on this sea break glass
bring the stars near home.

Blink

 Blink
and the day
that you had before you
is gone
and you are a ghost
of who you thought you wanted
to be.

Conceal joy
for one moment
and it is lost
like a cinder tossed
by heat into the sky
above the roaring
of the fire
that was your life.