In the cold light of
morning new fence boards tinged with
            frost orange and raw

            In the cold light of
morning new fence boards tinged with
            frost orange and raw
knuckles on the bare Spring earth
many new wrinkles appear

knuckles on the bare Spring earth
many new wrinkles appear
            steady rains call
a black bird convention the lot
            no longer vacant

            steady rains call
a black bird convention the lot
            no longer vacant
for the moment I’ve lost it
glasses syllables words lists

for the moment I’ve lost it
glasses syllables words lists
            the half eaten moon
above the bramble bank looming
            in the headlights

            the half eaten moon
above the bramble bank looming
            in the headlights
itchy eyes pollen in the wind
lose or gain light what difference

itchy eyes pollen in the wind
lose or gain light what difference
            day before a trip
break in the rhythm of home
            out there city music

            day before a trip
break in the rhythm of home
            out there city music
a river of ice crystals
cuts across my blue heaven

a river of ice crystals
cuts across my blue heaven
            true love comes and trims
my horny painted toenails
            new stockings like silk

            true love comes and trims
her horny painted toenails
            new stockings like silk
in myth he rode the wild sow
white scar the length of his calf

in myth he rode the wild sow
white scar the length of his calf
            wind ruffles her hair
dramatic moment passes
            dead mossy branches

            wind ruffles my hair
dramatic moment passes
            dead mossy branches
berry profusion unpicked
onyx luster oxidized

berry profusion unpicked
onyx luster oxidized
            clear skies forecast
the dark sheen of wet asphalt
            as the rain comes and goes

            clear skies forecast
the dark sheen of wet asphalt
            as the rain comes and goes
honey comb moon almost full
cold star bees buzzing all round

honey comb moon almost full
cold star bees buzzing all round
            beyond what is there
the event horizon other
            worlds beckon gravely

            beyond what is there
the event horizon other
            worlds beckon gravely
over the edge of the high cliff
bull pine leans in the wind

at the edge of the high cliff
a bull pine leans in the wind
            as blossoms hum in
the moody light a breaking
            sky chases the squall

            as blossoms hum in
the moody light a breaking
            sky chases the squall
cold fog rolls in I turn back
climate change around the block

cold fog rolls in I turn back
climate change around the block
            a high sweet voice sings
gratitude with difficulty
            fire burns everywhere

            a high sweet voice sings
gratitude with difficulty
            fires burn everywhere
shirt off in the heat of day
berry stains on my belly

shirt off in the heat of day
berry stains on my belly
            mouse eaten paper
big dipper empty black hole
            here thirst unslaked

            mouse eaten paper
big dipper empty black hole
            here thirst unslaked
the little bit of tea in
the cup and the ring it made

the little bit of tea in
the cup and the ring it made
            he calls me on the
telephone no new good news
            I sit there amused     

            she calls me on the
telephone no new good news
            I sit there amused     
tonight I’m just a hat rack
in a pair of red slippers

tonight I’m just a hat rack
in a pair of red slippers
            fine rain visible
in the street light's orange glow
            wind scattering leaves

            fine rain visible
in the street light's orange glow
            wind scattering leaves
the scent of it the feel good
a crane stands there not moving

the scent of it the feel good
a crane stands there not moving
            in that one moment
high wide cloud band spanning blue
            all of day contained

            in that one moment
high wide cloud band spanning blue
            all of day contained
a cold gets me down to earth
can a human feel painless

a cold gets me down to earth
can a human feel painless
            under a full moon
the dark’s hazy pale edges
            toss and turn restless

            under a full moon
the dark’s hazy pale edges
            toss and turn restless
she was there tall and shining
a persimmon in her hand

she was there tall and shining
a persimmon in her hand
            heavy headed caprice
the delightful wine too much
            mumbled the hermit

            heavy headed caprice
the delightful wine too much
            mumbled the hermit
“now that the bottle’s empty
who will keep me company”

“now that the bottle’s empty
who will keep me company”
            juncos migrating
red berries in the bush nearby
            the song of the south

            juncos migrating
red berries in the bush nearby
            the song of the south
a wet blankets the landscape
and leaves a beauty forlorn

a wet blankets the landscape
and leaves a beauty forlorn
            orange chrysanthemums
hail turned to brittle snow
            my foolish heart cools

            orange chrysanthemums
hail turned to brittle snow
            her foolish heart cools
over glistening frozen
roof tops a lone egret sails