How the light gets in

This lovely poem just suddenly appeared
on the now empty vegetable planter,
sidewalk-side of a wonderfully diverse
elementary school in my neighborhood.
Must be some wise and beautiful kids
coming up in this world!

From Leonard Cohen's Anthem

A modern Thanksgiving

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Oh, how times have changed.

It wasn’t so long ago that even a phone call

to bring everyone to the holiday feast

was kind of suspect….a note more proper.

Hope your day of thanks was technologically

correct and everyone found their place at the table.

Everyone...yes, everyone, family and friends, at our feast had an IPhone!!

Contemplating trolls

I am not a collector,

well maybe have too many books.

But, I can barely grasp keeping

troll dolls locked in cabinet ▬

even more distorted by the beveled glass.

Isn’t it wonderful that we are all so different?

A feathered friend

So many in this busy City

find friendship from their pets.

So many in the quiet country

find companions in their animals.

It seems somehow strange for me

to meet a man on a busy sidewalk

with a friend and companion

that I thought would be found

on a quiet lane.

Silver Laced Poland bantam.

A hint of winter

Wonderful scent of rain,

but not quite yet.

A brisk touch in the air,

but not quite yet.

Crisp leaves in the fading

grass. Not quite yet.

Sad?

Across from me on the 33 bus:

her shopping bags were brimming,

carrots still with their tops, low fat milk

and nutritious, multi-grain bread.

As we rode for many blocks,

she was talking, maybe a bit too loud,

sometimes laughing,

in conversation

with someone not there.

She seemed sad, I judged.

And, yet I know nothing

of the fullness of a life

lived in her world.

Where did I find sadness?

It is fall

Wet pavement after the Equinox─

beautiful patterns evoke memories.

The air has a faint chill, it is fall.

Summer’s ease begins to fade.