A Perfect Harmony

In a deep moonless night
islands of clouds float
in a calm black sea
between them massive stars fuse and churn
little flecks of sunbeam held
between my thumb and forefinger
I glide along this ocean's floor
in a perfect hush
save the roar of liquid past my ears
and the hum hum hum of two tires
as I pedal my metal frame
wheels and chain, I drink deep
of this still night and savor
each draw of cool air
swishing it over my tongue
with my lungs, I ask
has any man's smile been more
whole and true
I hear him say to switch off
my headlamp and seal tight my eyes
and push harder and harder
with my arms outstretched
like twin airfoils at my sides I feel
my body become weightless and climb
up between the mountains of clouds.

Behind The Wheel of Escape

The hot sun burns

bright on my mirrored bumpers

like two skies My grill sparkles

on the miles and miles of interstate

metal on metal like the heart

I wear outside my chest

an empty locket cold

between my breasts

I watch the hypnotic

dashed white lines stream

past my chrome wheels

Turn signal on

boundaries made to cross

without thought

I rely on experience

saved up in between the muscles

in my shoulder or my brain or

well I don't know

as five of my eighteen wheels

shred a possum into an untellable paste

like the memories of my last husband

each white line an eraser

disappearing in my sideview mirrors

his angry hands

his slurred speech

when he was passed out

I left a note on his pillow

and prayed to myself

the bus would show up

before he came to

I imagined his sad dishrag face

at last free to show something

of the emotion he had for me

he needed me

like my dad

I ran from him too

I keep driving

my wounded eyes

watching the lines through my windows

a transparent reflection of my face

I swore I'd never be under his thumb again

and now I'm a million miles away

and now I'm a million miles away.

Fall and Winter Tankas

Sungold fall leaves cheer
and swirl in the free air,
drinking deep of wind.

Love is finally tasted 
when we surrender our tree.



Bare branches await
new leaves in the charity 
of winter's cool hands.

The distant green voice of spring
crowns the gift of chill and ice.