This is the "Memorial to the Unborn"

in Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden, WA.

the first Christmas

before the beginning

 the Father knew

the Son would come to earth

not as King

not as Lord

but as a baby

borne by water

and the blood of woman

how could the Father

send his Son into the dark

of womb and world?

how could the Son

leave heaven, throne

and Father?

woman

man

all the world

loved by the Father and the Son

on a Bethlehem night

came Light

by water

and the blood of woman

a Son

Immanuel

God

with us

(late 2000's)

For the past decade my sister-in-law/boss/friend (Karen)

has gifted me with a Swarovski snowflake ornament

for Christmas. I will soon hang this collection in

my windows as I decorate the house.

 

Swarovski in my window

sun-drenched snowflake

casts vivid rainbows

across kitchen

walls

cabinets

counters

ceiling

floor

violet

blue

green

yellow

orange

red

colors of crystal

(2001)

to Gail

here’s to dreams and seams

and

sewing machines

threads and beds

and

 lots of red

a room for

you

a room for

me

a place to just work

quietly

(mid-1990’s)

winter residents

stubbled fields

stripped

weeks ago

of stalk and leaf and ear

now host

flocks of migrant gleaners who

pick kernels

from the fallow fields

necks outstretched

they trumpet

when they

 fly

(2005)

cold silence

chilled

to perfection by

years

of practice

unwilling

to kindle

either

fires of rage

or
flame of forgiveness

hurling hot embers could

thaw

the icy impasse

defiantly

huddled by the frigid flame

of self-protection

pride says,

"I'm right, you're wrong"

frozen feelings frostbite

the heart

robbing us

of irretrievable time

(2000)

Janice was a member of the “artsy-fartsy" group AE! that I belonged to for many years.

We met monthly in one another’s homes. Janice hosted us while her kitchen was

being remodeled. The large lot her house stood on hosted a variety of wildlife.

This was written in response to her remodeling angst.

for Janice

 

the towhee was

not troubled by the stove

outside your door

a concrete bath

shaded by the smoke bush

satisfied his need

the quail were

not concerned by the empty

unfinished kitchen

a pile of debris

satisfied their need

the deer was

not distressed by disarray

of human making

the plants you’ve  grown

satisfied his need

when chaos

rules your world

do not

fret

observe the towhee

quail and deer

to satisfy your need

perhaps

you’ll

hear

 the waxwings

(2006)

Mom's clematis

'Blue Ravine' blossoms

open in October

against my

cedar-clad

house

summer grew

dark foliage

filling in

the arched trellis

but

no blooms

appeared

frost threatening

lavender-blue

flowers

defy

the season

like you

 Mom

against the odds

(2000)

on the pavement

yellow dancers skipping, swirling

autumn leaves

(2011)

Nez Perce legend

the people

believe eagles are attracted to

those who are

spiritual

on this January day

one perches

 in a nearby  tree

looking up

I wonder if it is

 true