small poems: late summer / early autumn

great blue heron early this morning our shadows cross

striking the brass bell

so many yesterdays 

begin this way

my reflection

in your eyes

before you blink

heart inside heart inside heart inside heart chalked sidewalk

everyone is talking about the moon

but tonight the moon is

talking to me

walking to the waterfall

and back

an hour without worry

heavy rain  you disappear  behind weeping willows

lately 

you hold my hand more tightly

I like it

each time we pass them

we call out

sunflowers sunflowers sunflowers

a volume of Issa's poems

open before me 

still my mind wanders

my sweetheart is flying west

I walk north and stop

to smell the roses

hibiscus tea

a long slow rain 

you wake up far from home

yesterday I couldn't find the teapot

but now

here it is

my sweetheart

two time zones away

is it too early to miss her?

let us begin again

you and I — dear moon 

the start of a new year

going for a walk later today maybe we will cross paths

green green green everywhere green

except over there . . .

a patch of red leaves

my new red beret 
some days i just want
to be a cardinal

here you are    beloved moon     now all is well