a cold winter morning
three pancakes
bubbling on the stove

a cold winter morning
three pancakes
bubbling on the stove
dog settles
under the high chair

a cold winter morning
three pancakes
bubbling on the stove
three pair of eyes
watching with surprise

winter night…
toes
under fur

trickling down the staff
the wax
of the acolyte's candle lighter

trickling down the staff
the wax
of the acolyte's candle lighter
burns
his fingertips

trickling down the staff
the wax
of the acolyte's candle lighter
old tennis shoes
under the robe

clumps of hair
the birds
nest

clumps of hair
the birds
nest
ready for spring
babies

clumps of hair
the birds
nest
quietly
above

clumps of hair
the birds
nest
above
my head

twinkling in the night,
houses covered—
in colored lights

twinkling in the night,
houses covered—
in colored lights
family
in route

twinkling in the night,
houses covered—
in colored lights
children's faces
shine

twinkling in the night,
houses covered—
in colored lights
snow
begins to fall

numb fingers
committed to
shaping the snow

numb fingers
committed to
shaping the snow
cone drips
red syrup

numb fingers
committed to
shaping the snow
fort is finished
hot cocoa

numb fingers
committed to
shaping the snow
red nose
rosy cheeks

the crunch of snow
beneath my shoes
winter words

the crunch of snow
beneath my shoes
winter words
touching
my heart

the crunch of snow
beneath my shoes
winter words
the last train
home

old man limping
stops to wave
nobody's looking

I stand in the back
of dad’s pick-up
pulling cherries off the tree

a college student
studying
two children rest

ocean waves
pulling me
in

a cool mountain stream
I pitch a penny
and wish