Wednesday, December 31, 2014

December 31: Mount Battie star

The whole town hiked up
for the last star lighting--
here, we value beauty.
 

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

December 30: Nocturne

How bright the one star
visible before dawn
out the bathroom window.
 
 

Monday, December 29, 2014

December 29: Amaryllis

Amaryllis bud
swelling, straining sunward--
so this is love.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

December 28: Taking down the Christmas tree

Holiday's packed up.
Fir needles will resurface
for the next twelve months.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

December 27: Camden Harbor ducks

Ducks grab stale Christmas bread
doled out by children
just learning to share.

 

December 26: Plum Island

Where waves meet sand
instead of sandpipers
wind-skitter of dead leaves.
 
 
 

Thursday, December 25, 2014

December 25: Christmas, Marblehead

Christmas Day--
the full tide brings its gift
to the rocky shore.
 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

December 24: Christmas Eve

While the kids are still awake
we eat the cookies
that weren't left for Santa.
 
 

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

December 23: Cat grass

Basket of cat grass--
to the happy, chewing cat
it tastes of summer.

Monday, December 22, 2014

December 22: Some nights

What brings warmth some nights
is simple: dish-washing,
cat's fur, mac and cheese mix.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

December 21: Starry night

Winter Solstice--
Orion on the horizon;
many candles shine too.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

December 20: Christmas Bird Count

My husband and I spent the day birding "our" section of the Thomaston-Rockland Christmas Bird Count, a Christmas season tradition which we've been sharing together for 17 years--14 of them in this section.

Flock of bluebirds--
of course they bring happiness
Winter Solstice eve

Friday, December 19, 2014

December 19: Paper whites

In the candlelit window
long stems of paper whites
graceful ghosts

Thursday, December 18, 2014

December 18: Under Jupiter's bright watch

Driving home late--
what looks like animal's eyes
turns into a beer can.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

December 17: What's underneath it all

After dark the mice
feet whispering in the basement
keepers of secrets

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

December 16: Kingfisher

Unfrozen quarry,
snowfall--lone kingfisher rattles,
plumbs the black depths.

Monday, December 15, 2014

December 15: December sunrise

Spent the day birding the beaches, salt marshes, and nearby neighborhoods of Ogunquit and Wells for the York County Christmas Bird Count. We began the day with a beautiful sunrise over the ocean at Moody Point, where dozens of sandpipers twinkled at the edge of the chilly surf...
 
Sunrise over the beach--
at the sandy edge
one frozen raspberry.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, December 14, 2014

December 14: Sunday in a small town

While we watch the game
neighbor knocks to ask
whose chickens in her yard.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

December 13: Hazy shade of winter

Snowing in the pass--
in the old horse pasture
turkeys forage, unfazed.

Friday, December 12, 2014

December 12: Revelation

Morning, parting clouds--
only the highest ridgeline
covered now with snow

Thursday, December 11, 2014

December 11: Girls' night out

How do sharks mate?
Women talking together
on a rainy night.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

December 10: Dreaming

Such strange and vivid dreams last night. I woke thinking of Jung and his theories about the interpretation of dreams, what dreams about walking around in a house mean...
 
Asleep in my cocoon
I dreamt of a new house.
My soul, awake, wanders.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

December 9: Torrents

A hard rain--
the sky falls with conviction,
soaks through to my skin.

Monday, December 8, 2014

December 8: Holiday spirit

Day before a storm--
huddled over the heater,
humming the Nutcracker.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

December 7: Christmas lights

In Portland this afternoon to see the Nutcracker and enjoy some dumplings at Empire. The Christmas tree in Monument Square is lit; the sign on the Time & Temperature building is flashing: 20 (degrees) / BUY / LOCL; holiday lights festoon Congress St. A season of lights in the darkness.

 
Street lights, Christmas lights...
Moon rising over the bay
makes us say, "Oh! Look!"
 
 

Saturday, December 6, 2014

December 6: Dark

Dystopic movie--
we leave the dark theatre,
enter night's long tunnel.

Friday, December 5, 2014

December 5: Cold

Snow-scrapped, moonlit yard.
Inside I surround myself
with bowls of paper whites.
 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

December 4: Moon over the bay

Waxing moon lays a path
across the bay--
my escape route.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

December 2: In the dark

driving in the dark
you share the horror movie's plot
don't stop the car

Monday, December 1, 2014

December 1: Owl daydreams

Sixty-degree day
but in this snowy, seaside field
I still look for owls.