leaves

(Grandpa's Garden)
high in this tree
i'm sitting pretty
looking down on
gardens he grew
full of weeds and wildflowers
nodding in the afternoon sun
the wind shakes my
branches and i'm humming
something old and dusty
into the leaves
and he leaves

midwestern afternoons full of
ice or tornadoes
landing here like clockwork
but today is
green and hushed
in a rush of beauty and smoke
i was wrong and i'm
turning, turning, falling
landing like dove feathers
or autumn leaves
and he leaves

soldier

in another time
on another shore
he fought
and died
against the tide
that swept through
his soul
and now he wonders
where to go

he stands alone
against the bricks
feeling for his
heartbeat
but it is
quiet
and he is
lost

the timeless sounds
of mourning
dance in rays of sun
and he wakes
to find his
wounds
are gone
and he opens
his eyes
to find a hopeful
morning.

evening

The last birds of evening
Singing
The amber clouds of sunset
Glowing
The answers to their echoes
Clinging
The mountains call back
Knowing

Catching glimpses of the shadows’
Faces
And reaching for silence’s
Fingers
Deep and hollow. we fall into the
Spaces
Searching for a calm that
Lingers.

northern

snow fall
small white sparks
of ice
firey sweet on lips
of the sky
jump through
release
and burn

beautiful snapshots
isolation
in mountains of slumber
blankets
of ancient memories
and frozen tears
tumble down
the moutainside
forgotten

one chance
dig out
snowdrifts gaining
strength and
the sun is setting
on youth
northern lights
fall

starting over

2004, Leaving You

sometimes it’s easy
but tonight i’m thinking that
it’s impossible
and maybe tomorrow
it’ll be over


i see the sign
over the door that says
exit
and i'm drawn to the
red glow
there's something jazzy
about the song playing
out in the alley

i'm looking
pretty
you want to touch me
and you think i'm easy
tonight
but i just kissed
a stranger
and i hate that
shirt you're wearing

i’m laughing at the way
the door swings
and slams closed
when you’re
following me
stumbling out
dropping your stuff
swearing

it's sad you never knew

move to the city*

my sky isn’t like your sky
the clouds here are white
i can touch the blue and feel
but you are bricked away
behind concrete faces
and i wonder how you breathe there

my waves are colder and they crash
harder against my fingertips
harder and colder than any of the
waves you feel
how can you keep from drowning?
and why can’t i save you today?

my sun is a wild and white
never setting
and it’s glow could set you free
if you let it
but now you’re fading slowly
while the shadows kiss your lips

my rain is warmer than rain you drink
when you’re slipping away
if you could stay here
we could stand on the sidewalk
as drops hit heavy on our eyelashes
we’ll fall into the dark

wishes and memories

This is a little collection of my poetry. Just for the few of you I have decided to show. Thanks for the glance :)