Coco protects Mommy

he scares the bad guys away

so Mommy can drink her tea

in peace, so she can quietly journal

and read her poetry

in the soothing sunrays of an October morning.

early a.m.

quiet in the darkness

wind starts

to percolate

another breezy one in store

football on the TV

husband & I

tag-team a Halloween

jigsaw puzzle

puppy in submissive mode

rub my belly, please!

leftover Thai for lunch

fresh-baked Snickerdoodles,

sweet afterthought

it’s how the day goes

sometimes

nothing much

but actually, there’s

a whole lotta there,

there, too

it’s called love

and comfort,

sunshine

and warmth,

gratitude

that pretty much

encompasses

everything,

no questions

asked

today, continued warm temperatures

but tomorrow, southerly winds begin to blow

a little rain & cooler, crisper air soon to follow

so long summer; hello autumn loveliness!

I wrote a poem in tribute to the closing of a downtown Des Moines gathering place that closed its doors earlier this year. It appears in the local CITYVIEW online and print October issues.

I’m so pleased they’ve chosen to run it. I am grateful!

My poem, Ode to the Ritual Cafe, Downtown Des Moines, appears on page 15. Thank you for looking!

I find some poems

difficult to read

I’d name names —

that would be rude —

but I think

you know who you are

sneezes bellow —

eyes itch;

nose does, too.

pollen levels

continue to irk.

ragweed not done

with me, just yet.