Tuesday, October 31, 2017

October 31: Halloween

Halloween party.
Long walk home after dark
lit by a spectral moon.

Monday, October 30, 2017

October 30: On Trail #9

Cathedral Woods.
Crow makes sure the others know
about the intruder. 

Sunday, October 29, 2017

October 29: Starling

Atop the steeple
starling aspires to music,
doesn’t quite succeed.



Saturday, October 28, 2017

October 28: Ferry ride

It’s amazing—
the human capacity
for staring out to sea.

Friday, October 27, 2017

October 27: Foliage

Packing for a trip.
Maple tree in the yard
just starting to lose leaves.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

October 26: Front door decor

Window box flowers
clashing with Indian corn,
Halloween pumpkin.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

October 25: Inertia

Lying late in bed
Roar of heavy rain falling 
onto slick red leaves

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

October 24: Sick day

Afternoon rain.
Drifting in and out of sleep
alongside the cat.

Monday, October 23, 2017

October 23: Nap

Afternoon nap.
Distant flock of crows calling
up on the mountain.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

October 22: Bread Loaf

Autumn poetry reading.
Fireplace crackling
with warm applause.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

October 21: Sky-watching

Writers’ conference.
Watching Orion’s slow rise
over the mountain.

Friday, October 20, 2017

October 20: White River

Following the White River
to its mountain source.
Driving back in time.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

October 19: Warm spell

Indian summer—
even the garter snakes 
are out on the trails.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

October 18: Detour

Bridge closed.
Geese float upriver
waiting for dark.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

October 17: Vultures

Vultures soaring southward—
how to watch them
and not think of death?

Monday, October 16, 2017

October 16: Fall

Imprints of the fallen
leaves on the sidewalk
Ghost season

Sunday, October 15, 2017

October 15: Wind in the willow

With each gust
willow boughs reaching
across the window—

Saturday, October 14, 2017

October 14: The Magic Flute

What’s not to love about a staging of Mozart’s opera “Die Zauberflote” (The Magic Flute) that features lots of colorful bird puppets flitting around Papageno the bird catcher, a giant flying goose to carry the three spirit guides, and dancing bears?

Humming aloud
music from The Magic Flute.
Field full of geese.

Friday, October 13, 2017

October 13: Signs

Woolly bear caterpillar
hustling across the road
Winter is coming

Thursday, October 12, 2017

October 12: Cacophony

before the sun’s up
first crows, then a flock of geese
must you be so loud

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

October 11: Sumac

Deep in conversation
he still notices 
the scarlet sumac leaves.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

October 10: Safe harbor

Indian summer—
schooners wrapped for winter
in a glass-smooth harbor

Monday, October 9, 2017

October 9: Holiday

No mail today.
During a pause in the rain
neighbor’s rooster crowing.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

October 8: Rainy Sunday

Lost in a book.
Out in the rain crows 
making a racket.

Saturday, October 7, 2017

October 7: Painted Ladies

Afternoon spent trying
to glimpse the undersides
of Painted Ladies



Friday, October 6, 2017

October 6: Harvest Moon

harvest moon
rising over bales of hay,
skeleton on the lawn

Thursday, October 5, 2017

October 5: Warm spell

Car windows open.
A yellow leaf
becomes a fellow passenger.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

October 4: Tempo

Indian summer.
Walking home
in time with the crickets.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

October 3: Chill

Cold snap.
Turning up the heat
and the car stereo.

Monday, October 2, 2017

October 2: River, early fall

low water
the drowned forest
sees daylight again
 
 

Sunday, October 1, 2017

October 1: Skunks

fall constellations
in the backyard
holes dug by skunks