the river path winds quietly except for birds' flutter
nary a sound, nary a mutter

dead brown leaves is what you see
I see dried herbs in a vase for me

get closer to the bank
sink down in the mud
inch your way through the mire
crunch down all the briar
stand up and look
did the fish get your hook?

just a little bit more
down to the shore
into the undertow
into the muck you go

Blue Catfish

3 foot long, boot to hip
15-20 pounds
no proof

3/26/05
3 foot long, boot to hip
15-20 pounds
proof

clouds fold
to gather
in morning

sun rise rays
light down
lit like a lantern
flicker down
to earth

picnic along a wild wood trail
thorns sting the ankles
a tick grabs its next meal
a stone marks the place where she lay
150 years, quiet and undiscovered
watermelon drips
baby's breath grows alongside

I wish I were a tree
with nothing to do
but sway in the wind
and lend my leaves to the ground
and canopy the forest
with my protective beauty
greening up the atmosphere
chlorophylling the air
borrowing from the sun and the rain
growing as tall as the sky
roots burrowing as deep as the world
a permanent fixture on God's green earth

the little boy went to the lake one day
caught some little fishes but the big one got away
mom called him in for lunch at noon
not yet, he said, I'll be home soon

when his bait ran out he started using meat
when that didn't work he dangled in his feet
a big white catfish grabbed the boy's toe
pulled and yanked as far as it could go

boy found himself in the middle of the lake
boy held on but it was more than he could take
with one final squeeze he let go of that fin
and the fish took off with a wide toothy grin

the fish swam circles around the little boy
the boy got mad. "I'm not your bathtub toy!
I came out to conquer and I won't leave till I'm through.
I'm taking you for supper - I'll take care of you!"

the boy pulled the fish out with just one hand
he took him home and threw him in the frying pan
the family sat around the table after they'd ate
"What a big fish you caught. It was worth the wait!"

matronly tree
holding her many arms out
wide to embrace
all her children
and those she doesn't
know
for all the world's related
and her arms look so
inviting
like a hug
a tree

quiet thoughts
under the elm
sways breezy

owl hoots
company keeps me
under the elm

stays busy
rodents feed me
under the elm

lady, lady
seems crazy
under the elm

walk down the river path
gather twigs and leaves
too early yet for flowers
not so for trees

leaves like patches on silk
mud the color of chocolate milk
cool the chill still in the air
come with me, I'll take you there

muddy, slopey, marshy bogs
dead vegetation, moss on logs
rainy, sleety, icy winds
blossoms, buds, insects on limbs
winter begins what finishes spring
beauty's continuance is the thing