ash and iron
over dawn and day –
dimness the envelope
of that which
saves
ash and iron
over dawn and day –
dimness the envelope
of that which
saves
angels
at the feeder
our winter bell
December’s tone
softer
A turn in the road
cold stones
asleep in the fog
cardinal and chickadee –
rejecting seclusion
just another day
my tongue
over a broken
tooth
these quilts
over softening
bones
this morn of snow
the lake effect
of parting years
shadows of me
over blue moon
snow –
maybe I can love
Christmas again
day snow
cardinals as meteors
crossing winter murals
melodies
binding the last
memories
sound of snow
like library dust
saying what I think
elongated night
starlight laughing
undercover
suddenly white wind –
distant lights disappear
December arrives
cardinals
against pine and snow –
dialogue of empty cages
jarred peaches
November sunset sinking
how cold this is
leaves
let go – lift – fall
long night gathering
in the east
this war
who overhears
my breath
in clear midnight
who is dreaming
the owl
or me
pressing into pain
bruising sky
and once-blue eyes
opening to distance
I scrub the fry pan
wipe what is wasted
from the sink and recognize
this life as it is
tinged with evergreens
and winter moons
but mostly
a simple path
country all its own
with the maps engraved
on every pebble
we pocket
rutted road
moving into familiar
distance
cut hay
quietly tucked
for winter
how beautiful
this cold ache
as winter paws
what’s left
this season of dying
jackets for shoulders
and clavicles –
my breasts as sourdough
loaves covered overnight
November lips to hot
cider and then
nothing
blue highways
running east or west
into childhood –
sing the old songs
because we are dying
my bed
a thrashing series
of sickled shadows –
we almost felt golden
wheat on our palms
November folds
glacial hands to prayer –
in a dream I climb
a ladder leading
above hay