a trellised garden beckons,

its lush sanctuary

overflowing with birdsong

overcast morning

pale light filters through the leaves,

grants us quiet passage

I palm a warm mug,

the morning’s chill dissipates.

a pair of mourning doves

cozy up close,

mindful of the main event.

family wedding

day killer

today, I sleep

tiny flowers

tumble over teacup’s rim

pinks and yellows

oh, so fine

constricting band encircles my head

its relentless pressure; the dull ache

spring’s splendor and its pain

rose-breasted grosbeak

handsome, striking fellow

gorging on my safflower seeds

designing a raised bed flower garden

digging every hole in my head

careful placement: the reds, the yellows, the pinks

the seams, at last, give way

a rift in the bludgeoning sky

gentle earth laps up its excess