the second hand slows

the second hand slows,
breathing with the crickets' call:
time, an illusion

the earth turns her face

the earth turns her face
from the sun's placating rays
nightime is fallen

cocky red cardinal

cocky red cardinal
crimson king of the fence post:
backyard royalty

at the hospital

at the hospital
tears polish the wellworn floors
place of birth and death

Beneath the stone bridge

Beneath the stone bridge
muddied water comes to rest
sheltered from the storm

June, don't slip away

June, don't slip away
let me linger one more night
in summersweet arms

lightning bugs blinking

lightning bugs blinking
evening wrought in morse code
an ancient riddle