DID YOU EVER?

Did you ever embrace a tree?
Did you ever scoop up some earth?
Did you ever bury your nose in a sea of moss?
Did you ever allow a ten foot wave to lift you?
Did you ever cover your body with ocean sand?
Did you ever feel the beating heart of a bird?
Did you ever climb a steep mountain?
Did you ever see your wife's face in repose?
Go to it, there is still time.

BELIEVE IT

I saw a leaf lazily drifting towards the earth.
Watching its descent closely,
I let it fall into my hands.

I felt the texture, I traced its curves.
It spoke to me.
I cried with sheer delight.

THE WIND SHE BLOW

The winds still howl
unabated
I cannot sleep
‘tis fated.
I’ve eaten breakfast,
Taken a shower,
Put on my clothes
And left my bower

If they find me buried
In a “byre” of snow.
I’ll ask them kindly
For some coffee to go.

THE STORM

White driven snow
Steered by winds gone mad
Piling up treacherously.
Cars strewn over city streets,
Like so many fallen kingpins,
Nature unaware of spring, of time,
Spewing forth its bile.
People walking with averted heads,
Stumbling to warm sanctuary.
Shopkeepers cursing the snow,
Children filled with joy,
Canceled learning, watching from warm havens,

Nevertheless one must glory
In the majesty of nature,
Rejoice in the sheer beauty,
White snow, havoc and beauty
Embracing, uncaring.

Glory be damned,
Give me golden suns,
Give me warm embraces.
I’m so cold, so cold, so weary.
I wanna go home to mummy.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Puffs of cotton batting drift lazily across blue skies

Birds chatter freely, full of gossip

Bees hum loudly, cats purr, dogs bark.

Young lovers kiss openly

Smiles are sparkling and laughter easy

When nature’s gifts are abundant

Spring has sprung

CAUGHT IN WINTER'S VISE

Unruly, ungentle, temperamental
Slashing, blinding, terrifying.
Winds demonic, furious, eerie.
Winter’s storm, not the norm,
unleashing tons of snow.

Man-made machines buried like coffins
Others trapped in cars unmoving.
Waiting, hoping, no way of coping
Heaters blowing, radios going,
No food, no provisions, no advance visions.
Haunting thoughts of home and hearth,
of hot food, of hot bath, of bed, of woman’s warmth.
Waiting,waiting, just miles away.

SO LONG

So long winter
So long cold
So long dampness
So long salted snow
So long traffic jams
So long freezing
So long heavy coats
So long as I live
I disown you
Go back to nature’s hell
You rotten has-been