21. Gaudeo

raindrops pool
on white painted sill
lightning.

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lightning,
the long shudder
of black clouds

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black clouds
roll in from the west
where are the birds?

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the birds sleeping
in hollowed oak
part of the black silhouette

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the black silhouette
of an oak
against the moon

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the moon creeps
from behind the storm
with stars

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stars, stars, stars
so many stars
only one moon

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one moon,
one face,
one man.

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one man on dirt path
lit by moon
an old ornery owl.

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an owl dries
then dives
one less mouse to feed.

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to feed an owlet
tonight only one
tomorrow – three mice.

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three mice eating
fine gouda cheese
a broken trap

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a broken trap
a scratched leather shoe
a laundry basket

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a laundry basket, full
a clothesline
empty.

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empty yard
but for a rabbit
and a man

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a man in pajamas
hanging clothes
by moonlight

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by moonlight,
one clothespin short
fluttering red silk

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red silk,
black in silver moonlight

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black & silver
on the lake
the moon sets

-

the moon sets
darkness, darkness
more darkness.

-

in her nest
the owl tends her young
a blueberry bush below

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a blueberry bush
no berries
yet.

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yet, still
a wolf pads by
the black bear’s hovel

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a bear with salmon breath
snores under a rock
no dreams

-

no candle
no wind
no moth

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a gypsy moth caterpillar
wriggles along
the old maple

-

the maple leaves
by the window
dance

-

the curtain dances
on a cool breeze
goose bumps

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a goose honks
at the sunrise
twice

-

twice a bass jumps
and splashes

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frigid splashes
hot sun
a fishing boat

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a boat against the dock
rattles on a wave
a distant echo

-

an echo
an acko
no duck

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a duck
five ducklings
a loaf of bread

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a sharp quack
ducks in order
half a loaf

-

only bread for bait
light line, one hook
more perch for dinner.

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perched
atop a red fir
a red-tailed hawk

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a hawk circles
a shadow circles
granite below

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sunlight on granite
a squirrel leaps
death is not warm

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warm coffee brews
a deep breath
a long deep breath

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a long smile
a long sip
no coffee

-

a blue coffee mug
on the porch rail
a curious chipmunk

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one chipmunk
eight holes
everything’s connected

-

connected by sunbeams
the crawfish
and the lily pad

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a lily pad
a lily
brown water.

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murky brown water
dead stumps
happy fish

-

fish in schools
children too
fish for lunch.

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lunch time
an apple
an apple tree

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apple blossoms
cherry blossoms
How many more times?

-

time passes
in swooping seconds
on freckled wrist

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a flick of wrist
releases more string
a green kite soars

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a green dragon kite
over a pavilion
an old man smiles.

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an old man
on a plain wood bench
a green trellis

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a green trellis
thick ivy
tea roses.

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on the rose bush
fighting
two finches

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two finches vie
for her affection
but his breast is purpler.

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a purple balloon
a green balloon
father's red cheeks.

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red cheeks
late afternoon sun
long shadows

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tiny flip-flops
large brown curls
a blue-eyed girl

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a blue-eyed girl
in black polka dots
a red hat

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a red hat
caught in a rhododendron
sunset

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pomegranate sunset
thin indigo clouds
the evening star

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the first star
still light
a long sidewalk

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a long sidewalk
a long shadow
cracks

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cracks along
the length of road
east to west

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dreams of west
dreams of east
3000 miles

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3000 miles
of black asphalt
and a backpack.

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bed roll on a backpack
a two-man tent
black jeans

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blue jeans
blue pond by the road
a boy

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a boy in jeans
a man smoking
silence, no fish

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silence
a smoke ring
wet shoes

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blue shoes
turn black
in moonlight

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moonlight on granite
an owl leaps
but wings...

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wings buzz
in left ear only
damn mosquitoes

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bats and mosquitoes
diner
dinner.

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hot dinner
“ready” calls a voice
one last swing

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a single swing
of rod through summer
a bat lands in a boat

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beloved little boat
tied to creaky dock
tangled rope

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100 tangled steps
a well worn path
home.

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home-cooked pickerel
sharp teeth,
not his. Mmmm.

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Mmmm…
fresh berries
fresh cream

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blue china
creamer & sugar
all old.

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an old black kettle
two mugs. steam.
tea soon.

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soon, white sheets
a loon call
sagittarius

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sagittarius
bowless, arrowless
a cloudy night

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a Perthy night
the southern cross
no... siriusly

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No infinity in the desert
every grain can be counted.

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sheep counted
dreams of Africa
blissful shuteye

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the doctor closes his eyes
with his left hand.
a prayer.

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a prayer
for Grandmother
and other ancestors

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ancestor's bones
in a small silver chest
a picnic

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a picnic
with the man
on the moon  

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a face on the moon
a face in the mirror
every star: faceless.

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every star: faceless
a name etched
with driftwood

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driftwood rotting
the soft smell
of long dead

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long dead
a crab shell
near a dirty towel

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a dirty towel
on the sand
low tide.

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low tide,
high tide
again, again

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Again, the sunrise
a beginning
An end.