Path

left foot first

down the mountain path

then the right

Lifeboat

refugee lifeboat

how many nautical miles

till the blackbird sings

still cradling raindrops

from the afternoon downpour—

one red maple leaf

Black Friday stampede—

underfoot a homeless vet’s

one-finger salute

written in the stones

old stories of thanksgiving

and new runes of grace

waiting for first snow

the last days of November—

an empty duck pond

Dad’s old typewriter

with its faded black ribbon

and a sticking e

The girl with blue shoes

leaves them outside the back door

to play with the stars.

tongue of the bullfrog

snatching a gnat in midair—

supper on the wing

shattered wineglasses

littering the café floor—

terrorist attack