In the early morning quiet

before the day

begins, I sit

and listen. The

almost inaudible stirrings

within join the

unmetered flow

of guttural

calls and high-pitched chattering. From

this unlikely

blend comes a hint

of harmony.

                                                              JDG

Someone didn’t get the memo 

tonight. The black

trees etched against

the fading sky

suggested a quiet close of

day seconded by

the thin-slivered,

ascending moon.

Then an unknown bird started its

shrill complaint and

others, even

the frogs, joined in.

                                                                    JDG

This is not your usual sky.

This is a world

where turtles fly.

I lept and left

what I once knew and now I hope

my ‘chute can cope

and lets me float 

to solid ground,

though I don’t own nor ever read

the hitchhiker’s

guide to this or

any galaxy.

                                           JDG

The scowling, overweight woman

is not Kwan Yin,

but the yellow

bird, looking with

such gentle interest at the red

bird sitting at

her side, could be.

I want to look

at the scowling woman and see

what the yellow

bird sees. I need

accepting eyes.

                                                   JDG

As near as I know, my two dogs

don’t lie awake

assigning blame

for deeds once done.

Neither do they count the error

of their ways or

those of others.

It’s we humans

who occupy ourselves with such

concerns and then

ponder the source

of our unrest.

                                                                 JDG

A splash of bright rose-purple brought

me up short. I

swear it wasn’t

there this morning

when I passed this spot sprinkled with

the usual

golds, whites, and blues,

but by tonight

a single Nodding Thistle stood

and proudly claimed

its right to join

the roadside crew.

                                                               JDG

After the rain a calm settles

in. This morning

no breeze ruffles

the trees, disturbs

the pond. A sparrow flies across

the cloud-greyed sky.

All is quiet

and wrapped in peace –

all, that is, except for me whose

hard task for now

is simply to

 let all this be.

                                                       JDG

The stones of my floor to ceiling

fireplace are fixed,

yet the patterns

they make shift with

my ever-changing mood. Today

I saw a dog

with downcast eyes,

but I have seen

gallant sword fighters; a turtle,

head outstretched – the

seer seeing

an inside view.

                                                     JDG