21 salute

on the solstice
the orchid booming
a guy carrying his bike
the smell of fresh baking mud
loonies to strangers
soft fur/raspy tongue
birds out singing semis
airborne fuzz
pylon as rabbit
snoozy #1 rider
acupuncture prickles
uber kale invasion
delphinium whiskers
5:04
22:07
rise up
set down
sol soul

it is a day

to bathe in lilac breezes
to count robins (60 so far)
to scratch when itchy
to sit beside a crumpled beer can on the bus (Molson Canadian)
to overhear in the bank that 'there's a hockey game tonight'
to have a door held open by a long, lean man in snakeskin cowboy boots
to hose out the kitty litter box in the bright sun
to watch steam rising from the patio
to try not to scratch when itchy
it is a day
like and unlike any other
a precious assemblage of hours

lovley

the new diction

pines

tonight a porcupine
lumbering in
45
oh seven
one oh seven

quills and all
in the hood
around and down

the pots the pines
and off again

come again
anytime
lovely lumbering porcupine

37.5

the bluest of blue
nestled in the bed
tucked into the soil
sheltered by gazania
portulaca
sea holly
a sliver of shell
robin's egg
# 37
and a half

cat's eyes

gaze out at the verbena
the heliotrope
the fading newness of the afternoon
soaking up all that has fallen
all that is coming
the spaces between the rain

cat's eyes are blinking now
tranquility shutting out the day
squinting out the truck muffler
roaring up 107th
magpie squawks and claw trims

cat's eyes are hunting now
iris and glass
triumphant bug that will not be taken down
pause for paws
green light to wings

cat's eyes are staring now
this yard and a thousand waking dreams

antennae

these antlers of mine
pick up all the best frequencies
especially the whispers
from the top of your lungs
tuned into all the flight paths
toybox schemes
souffles and soft shoes
these antlers of mine
hone it all in
drive it all home
and around the block
again and again
standard gear
the rack electric