All Night

all night
the snap of branches
in this winter wind

I remember how deftly
he braided my hair

Longest Night

longest night
your scent clings
to a thrown-away envelope

the things that remind me
how little I deserve you

the wood fence bends
as the winter wind blows-
reminding myself
that sunset will be later
each day 'til june

Circling

slowly circling
as I speak of this
break in my life
the flock of geese
too weak to fly home

dead leaf
hangs on a dead limb-
winter wind
interrupts the cold
brutal silence

End of the Season

at the end of the season
I find some things
still clinging--
this blood-brown leaf
and thoughts of you



With our first ice storm of the year, Autumn is officially over.

country road
a doe licks salt
through the ice