January 31: Blue Moon

I confess I slept through this morning's partial lunar eclipse. But I did admire the moon in the middle of the night as it was lighting up the post-snowstorm sky. This full moon is a blue moon, being the second full moon of the month. It was also, technically, a super moon, meaning it was at a closer point to Earth in its orbit (perigee). A lot going on in the sky as the moon was setting and the sun was rising.

Blue moon setting.
Constellation of oak leaves
scattered on fresh snow.

January 30: Snowing

Swirling snow—

only the undaunted crows

remain visible.

January 29: Pregnant moon

Gestating moon,

what will you give birth to

two cold days from now?

January 28: Hawks

To keep myself amused on long drives, I sometimes keep a tally of all the Red-tailed Hawks I see perched along the roadside, watching for prey. 

Measuring the miles—

from Kittery to Camden

a seven-hawk drive. 

January 27: Fox sunrise

Fox barking at dawn

leaves another line of tracks

across the snowy lawn. 

January 26: To roost

Above the library—

learning how to read

the vast flock of crows. 

January 25: Sunrise

Breath-taking sunrise—

if I have to be awake,

at least there’s that.

January 24: Downtown

Sidewalk conversation.

Pigeons flying from one roof

to another. 

January 23: Bulbs

Frost on the window.

Undeniably phallic

amaryllis bud.

January 22: Spying

Black pieces on a white board—
what are the crows up to
across the river?

January 21: Wildlife

Dead of winter.

In my morning coffee

a drowning fruit fly.

January 20: Winter Zen

Buddha of the porch

remains serene

with a lap full of snow.

January 19: Out

Sun on fresh snow.

Titmouse’s dog-whistle

calling me outside.

January 18: New Moon

Slender new moon.

Deer stretching their necks to feed

on cedar boughs. 

January 17: Red on white

Cardinal in a snowstorm.

Finding hope 

in the smallest things.

January 16: Crows

It’s not by accident

that three crows gather

in a tree over my head. 

January 15: Evergreen

Rhododendron leaves

tight green fists clenched

against the cold

January 14: Ebb

Late afternoon, ebb tide.

Silhouettes of feeding ducks

drift out of sight.

January 13: MLK, Jr. Weekend

Holiday weekend.

Voices of river and rain

blending in the dark.

January 12: Meltwater

January thaw—

sounds of running water

even our thoughts fluid

January 11: January thaw

January thaw

snow dripping off the eaves

something loosed in my heart

January 10: Here

out of the car

confronted with Orion

where I’m supposed to be

January 9: Outside

After days of single digit and subzero temperatures, it rose into the 30s today. I actually paused to appreciate being outside. 

Shoveling gritty snow

rush of traffic

goldfinches singing

January 8: Perched seal

Waiting for the moment

when the rising tide 

floats the seal off its rock.

January 7: What lies beneath

Transfer station.

Could be anything

under those piles of snow.

January 6: We ponder the meaning of cold

Zero degrees all day.

Chimney smoke a flat pennant

pointing south.

January 5: Finches at the feeder

Eleventh day of Christmas—

snowstorm gave to me

two finches feeding.

January 4: Tracking

Across the harbor ice

tracks of a squirrel

visit a lobster boat. 

January 3: Moonset

Sky flushed with sunrise.

Behind the retirement home

setting moon still bright. 

January 2: Awake

After midnight

long shadows of trees

lying across moonlit snow

January 1: Wolf Moon

After midnight

fat old moon slips easily

into the new year.