first scent

when jasmine first comes
it comes to the nose, softly,
hidden in the oak

primordial fern

study, straight, arms outstretched
reaching out in summer light,
back to the first dawn

honey s.

never shy, ever
busy blooming at each stage
of being a bloom

honeysuckle

the still, night air drips,
saturated with the sweet,
breathing deep, lustful

side door

doors now always locked
were once opened every day
in similar light

bug noir

shadows diminish
stunning colors; silhouettes
are more menacing

satisfied

perfect pinnacle
from which to see life smaller
than even his smile

wings crystal

wings like fine crystal
sparkle clear in morning light,
paused to catch a breath

mosquitoes’ terror

such a small dragon,
yet a fierce, mighty hunter,
mosquitoes’ terror

woodpile tucked in

a sure sign that spring
is in solid and winter
is over, done, gone

icon

in a blink you see
a clear representation
an embodiment

(from a few days in new orleans)

inspired

the young minister
was lost for ideas for
Sunday morning’s sermon
until he took a walk
and looked for a sign

(from a few days in new orleans)

where there's magic

US 90 fords the Mississippi,
right where the snaky river
flips back on itself
so what was flowing south flows north,
its silver cantilever portals
like time gates through which
those traveling west go east
and those eastbound find themselves
bound west
and then the river is crossed
and the US ribbon of highway
continues on its way

from a few days in new orleans)

(ˈma-gə-ˌzēn)

1. A periodical containing a collection...
2. A television program that presents a variety...
3. A street running through diversity...

(from a few days in new orleans)

trois portes rouges

so much depends
on the three red doors
shuttered on Sunday morning
near Royal and St. Ann

(from a few days in new orleans)

Algiers

on the other side
at the foot of the levee
there’s a quiet refuge

(from a few days in new orleans)

shutterdog at ease

in early morning
nothing moves but the gently
sweeping curves’ shadow

(from a few days in new orleans)

a broad service industry

opening at ten
offered her service to a
wider clientele

(from a few days in new orleans)

city's flavor

not every flavor
is sensed through the sense of taste
but a whole lot are

(from a few days in new orleans)

st. louis

sitting wide open
facing the muddy river
its steeples watching
every manner of traffic
ready to receive




(from a few days in new orleans)

street art

says something about
a city that sees
art in all things
and all things artable

(from a few days in new orleans)

shared light

next door to the house
where william faulkner
lived and wrote for a year
is a pink building
with a green door
that gets splashed with
morning light everyday
but just for a moment
just as it did
when bill would
have seen it
as he passed with
the morning paper

(from a few days in new orleans)

recalling

strings of beads
dangle through Lent's forty days
Mardi Gras recall

(from a few days in new orleans)

take out

such a simple food,
like fruit, just there and so good,
and easily transported

(from a few days in new orleans)

royal routine

deep in the Quarter
a Sunday begins
with coffee and conversation

(from a few days in new orleans)

least objectionable

if more of them
looked like this
perhaps i’d not mind
so many of them

(from a few days in new orleans)

easter flower

only the spiderwort
brings such joy to me, makes me
smile and stand in awe
at today's fresh blooms
and the infinite promise
of infinite more,
there will be no end,
there will always be more life,
it's easter's promise

parable of lemon and peas

On the day after Jesus was placed in his tomb,
and the day before he disappeared from his tomb,
he took several little known strolls
in the countryside around Jerusalem
including one in which he stopped by
Rankey’s Place, drawn there by its beautiful garden.

Rankey’s brother-in-law, Marty, and his sister, Jewel,
were working in the garden and stopped to chat with Jesus
as well as to offer him some water.

In particular Jesus commented on two plants,
a pea vine and a lemon tree. He said it thrilled
him to see a plant that held both the bud and bloom,
the flower and the fruit, all at the same time,
together, for it gave him assurances that this life,
and the past life, and the next life,
were all one life,
a grand circle.

He thanked them for the water
and went on his way.

new leaf life

seeing new life spring forth
from a cold, rough, old dried limb
gives the whole tree hope

sage dirt

leaf skin razor etched,
flowers succulent, juicy,
all fresh from the earth