pulling up the sheet-
didn't know you had gone til
my calves lost their heat

five green leaves
fall in tumbling sunlight
toward summer's end

enough time away
to find that sense of humor
winking in the sand

from jenny on my 50th

may years like soft rain
fall upon you, a lake
of rising wonders

small mouth surfacing
sprays me with laughter
pool-side service

and then come the seeds
rapidly fired
sticky sun kisses

the best part is the end
when we hold up our jars
casting light freckles

running the cool grass
I am called by fountains
and remember joy

we caught a glimpse
in the wandering night
a limp vine strung on bark

this winking sun
an invasion of mushrooms
forced to drip dry

I do not hunt words
but gather sprinkles of mind-play
while chasing fireflies

at last summer!
thirsty grass crackles
under my feet

too late I find you
curled tight at the tips
sprung from a crack

midnight gardener
darkens the lavender
mists the moon

for ellie

palest rosebud
nestled in her own softness
newborn's milky dream

I wasn't sure
which sparkled more
the snagged fish or your smile

trembling butterfly
alights upon me softly
haiku's first line

before the storm
launched the steel-framed hammock
ingratiating calm

unyielding steamy
press of summer
strange how I miss you

emerging from work
I burn my feet on concrete
summer's welcome pain

wrapped in night's sheer veil
ripened luna waits
leaking gold dust

shuffling with a walker
her smile explodes -
independence day

blinded again
by uncompromising rain
and these weak wipers

dark parallel bars
wrought-iron moonlit shadows
can't trap these bare toes