Magpie, 6/13/11

They looked around,
no child.
Where had Chyrstal gone ?
Then on the  floor by the back door
Mary found the little shell.
" Beach!" She yelled to her husband
and they were off;
over the gritty wooden deck,
leaping onto soft and shifting sand.
Stumbling up to the firmer pack
Mom shaded her eyes- "There John-"
Sure enough the youngster was crouched
intently plucking at something in the damp
as the waves rolled in.

Magpie Tale, 5/23/11

She felt quite faint all of a sudden,
all happiness draining away.
She was going to have to excuse herself,
get some fresh air before serving.
A sip of water even-

Magpie, 4/11/11

Spatterings of  paint,
blood , wine;
with three candles
and a knife
underneath the tablecloth,behind.

Magpie, 4/4/11

You can pull the drops
together,
though they will not
run forever
you can draw them in
upon each other;
so they are stronger
going forward
where they can do their best
together- quench a thirst ?

Magpie tale, 3/6-7/11

She wanted the reds,
and shadow and browns.
her brush was thin
she lifted the tip
many times from palette to page;
finally the tiny stem
made it possible to bring
the crinkly flavors
to her plate.

Magpie Tales, 2/1/11

Chipped and worn,
Umber steps drop away from the plateau
ruby roads into black trenches.

Crayon note horses
rainbow maned
strut and gallop, tails high

pride and freedom bring them
to canyon cliffs
cinnamon dust plumes
underfoot.

Hot searing wind
arises from below
reminiscent of fire,
I give them wings.

Magpie Tales.12/29/10

She liked to drive very fast-

When I found these gloves on the floor
it threw me back
into her very low
very fast car...

I knew how soft the leather was
before even touching them

I wanted the rabbit fur
against my skin;

but not the tightness
that would encompass
my hands

then run up my arms
to my heart
and crush me.

Magpie Tales

A bound and folded stone,
a piece laid down
from an old newspaper obituary

'It is white' The witch thought
'To remind us of the bones
in Moonlight.'

Ne'er mind the dates of birth and death,
ne'er mind the name... 
'All has been boiled rightly
and placed where it will be 
seen the most'

Beware. She turns in sweeping
black, so much
a thin angled shadow

there is only a glimpse
of bent bristle on the tip
of broom, as she launches

a mere wisp of sound
for any mortal nearby
to sense.

Magpie Tales

"Yes sunrise, I am coming!"
Light a candle for the new day
Throw open the dutch door
as you hear the train coming into the valley,
On a clear morning you can even hear the rumble
of all the wheels,
Sound carries and purifies the air.
You wish for a good drum,
some brass handbells- anything
to match the hope of it.
Behind the door is your apron
you step aside to put it on,
and realize a yearning
for creative purposes;
raise your voice
" Bread and pies, here we come!"