2018

 
 
 

of 2018
 
only a few hours remain—
 
empty riverbed

Poinsettia

 
 
 

Close to New Year’s Eve
 
my neighbor’s poinsettia
 
still holds all its leaves.

Lost

 
 
 

On a snowy bench
 
an old woman sits, weeping
 
for all she has lost.

Milkweed

 
 
 

Near December’s end
 
a milkweed pod bursts open,
 
scattering its seeds.

Shutdown

 
 
 

Last days of the year—
 
despite Washington’s shutdown,
 
the sun keeps shining.

Crows

 
 
 

From the great bare oak
 
on the day after Christmas
 
crows jeer passersby.

Crèche

 
 
 

Christmas Day blizzard—
 
a homeless man finds shelter
 
in the church’s crèche.

Shopping

 
 
 

last-minute shopping
 
on the day before Christmas—
 
my thinning wallet

Counting

 
 
 

six hours and counting
 
for the first snow to dwindle
 
into nothingness

Why

 
 
 

Why does the blackbird
 
ruffle his feathers so? It’s
 
only the first snow.