The Hike The way up was punctuated with little chanterelles. Tiny orange stepping stones for lively evanescent fea feet. So unlike my human feet. Mile after mile, always up… I didn’t want to be breathing so hard. I didn’t want to be so tired. I thought I should be better. Somewhere near the summit I started to cry. It was terrifying to seem so weak.   … Continue reading The Hike

The seasons in the Eastern Woodlands are like one long breath in the body: It starts in the still nothing of winter’s empty sleep. Deep in the roots, the pelvic floor, where life begins. It grows through the sacral Spring into a teeming river, abounding waters, observed by regal Cormorants, resting on river rocks with their vampire beaks uplifted. Singing green and yellow branches, brave … Continue reading The Rustle of Winter is the Seed of Spring

Reach A baby girl was born on an airplaneas her parents fled Afghanistanwhile in their jet stream wakethe Taliban took powerovernight. A tiny quaking bright hope of all feminine power Both passed and living now.Ten fingers, ten toes. They named the baby Reach after the airplane,as if she was reaching across the seafor her lifeas the world below heardher first cries. I was heavy with … Continue reading Reach

Capacity and Momentum My eyes pause in awe at my son’s huge knobby knees solidlanky delicate iron sinew resting carefree over the back of the green sofa. They are angular and hard, seemingly at some precipice, like fruit on the brink of ripening. His body gathering momentum for the great journey of fulfilling his full grown body. We are waiting for the pungent smell of … Continue reading Capacity and Momentum

My fate she follows me; she looks to me to lead the way. She stays with me, survives me. Steadfast, and sometimes unseen in these dark human valleys. She flickers behind me in bright moonlight, and stretches tall in sunny winter afternoon forests. Come along my little fate, my dark little sprite, dancing umbra, watcher of my will, keeper of my way. Poem by Merenda … Continue reading Come Along My Little Fate

It rained so hard the bath water came in reddish brown. I didn’t care. I loved it. I stepped in and rejoiced the feeling of that soft iron clay and silt hugging my body. I pretended I was a frog down at the pond, momentarily content, with just my eyes peering out of the safe and murky depths. Poem by Merenda CeceliaArt by Peter Sugarman Continue reading The Red Clay Bath

The mud dauber wasps are dependable puttering angels circling in busy patterns black incandescent iridescent tiny airplanes floating on drafts of sunny kitchen ceiling skies. They are inherently part of the hot yawn of summer and the solitary penetrable old farmhouse at the bay. They are the only thing moving in the space between still moments. Dark flecks against luminous white walls, anchoring us in … Continue reading Winged and Unwavering

Love in the Time of Coronavirus and Climate Change   ->>–=-=——–>   Cupid’s arrow rode in on an acorn whistle last New Year’s Day. Your eyes shined as the shrill cry echoed brightly through the ages.   In a high sky above hawks watched as it bounced off canyon walls and splashed down waterfalls then slipped deep between two left ribs into my unknown territory, … Continue reading Love in the Time of Coronavirus and Climate Change

Concerning Knowledge and the Universe   And how do you know your friends? You know the shapes of their faces the curves of their limbs their smell the way they call to you and the shine of their skin.   All this and their name.   And so too, you shall learn the flora and fauna and fungi of your native land. And when you … Continue reading Concerning Knowledge and the Universe

Kuk-ook in the Kitchen Doorway Standing framed at this old kitchen door I watch through the screen as another tropical Virginia rain washes away the sins and violence of a restless sleep. Standing framed at this old kitchen door in morning light, bare feet on dirty linoleum, little cat in my arms, his little nose in the wild wind. Ghosts of past loves whip past … Continue reading Kuk-ook in the Kitchen Doorway