Muscle and Bone

Earth's muscle and bone revealed with veins but no pulse. New Mexico's high desert. Spring rains come too late. Dry grass blades defy the wind. Hot sun burns the earth. Clouds drift in blue skies- shadows cross the mountain wall as they always have. Sheep graze in peace on old napping volcanoes- there's fire down...

The Mother-in-Law

Husbands will sometimes make unflattering comments or quiet complaints about her. Comedians will make jokes followed by knowing chuckles. It has probably been that way for untold generations. The mother-in-law is a looming icon in a new marriage. Is she a saint? Or a prophet or maybe an avenging angel? I was married for over...

Fishing Solitaire

Fishing is a solitary thing. At least for me. Over the years, I cherish most those solitary hours. I recently had a few hours alone on a small stream meandering through a mountain meadow. The setting was almost beyond description. A high meadow, set part by itself. Fishing was slow. The wind was difficult. The...

Hummingbirds at Night

Experts tell us that Hummingbirds are not nocturnal creatures. They need their sleep -- surely as much or more than I do. They are amazingly energetic and have abilities that other birds can only dream of. They are acrobats and flying aces with aerial combat and near constant feeding. But one warm night recently, it...

To Lucinda, Whoever You Were

What I know of you for certain is only what’s recorded on your tombstone and two old grainy photographs. Certainly, you were once a girl. A wife. A mother. You were a survivor of interesting times. Of Huguenot stock. You knew duty. Did you know love? Did you know peace? You were the family nurse,...

Morning Rain

I awoke to a rare and unfamiliar presence; a coolness and a calm that seemed foreign. There was a faint sound and the curtains moved in a slight breeze. The light was subdued. There was a pleasant smell in the air. Those were my first sleepy realities...my first slow acknowledgement of the blessing of the morning rain. The...

The Bus Stop

I walked her to the bus stop. We sat quietly together. There was not much more to say. Her bus came and left… but she was still here, waiting. She looked at me and smiled. “You’re a late bloomer” she said, laughing. “I’ll wait with you forever.” Forever. That is a long, long time. She...

The Butterflies Have Gone

The Butterflies have gone again, south for the winter…to Mexico. They passed by almost unnoticed in our pointless daily turmoil. Our desert bloomed this summer, blessed by rain, and the flowers beckoned and the butterflies followed their scented trail southward. I remember other midwestern autumns when the sky was full of Monarchs, all going south,...

Approaching Dublin – Coming Home

-I- The first smudge of low hills revealed themselves.We approached across a calm and sunlit sea.A few islands. Next an old tower. Soon a lighthouse.Then we arrived – to a safe harbor. We came to Dublin and Ireland by sea -- on purpose.That is the way my people left -- by sea. A few at...

The Fly

The fly flew forward and back, with purpose. Once, twice, as in a state of indecision. There was a buzz in the air, a rustling. Finally, it found its target, hovered, and settled gracefully on the surface. Quiet for an instant. Then movement again. The moving surface tugged and pulled the fly in a single and...