first frost

first frost, I forgot
the beauty of morning wheat
crystallized in ice

guiding the backhoe

guiding the backhoe
with a conductor’s finesse
the wiry old man

an indignant tree

branches lopped & chopped
so power lines can run through
an indignant tree

outside the E.R.

outside the E.R.
a helicopter descends
life in the balance

life's disappointments

life's disappointments
I sit at the piano
recall them no more

the parking garage

the parking garage
layers of concrete darkness
welcome me to work

tomorrow awaits

look closely beyond
the starry curtain of night:
tomorrow awaits