Wonder How

In the world this could stand just so clearly. The mountain smoldering again but in different places-- wildflowers doing what the butterfly needs singing its song of long ago.

Booked

It never got that far-- not by far! only close to nothing but enough said. Not much said. This is my point. It was there but it did not occur. Case closed. Question mark. With the bear.

From

The way ahead is unclear but days end and Begin the same as before. There are so many Missing times ahead. That's the way it is. Hanging fog above the swale. Her grave with A small plank on top. Ravens. Time filling What looks blank before the sun soon appearing Just over Mt.Scott from up the Umpqua.

Mistress

The bear breathed down my neck Embracing me. I could not remember Anything more intimate. Would the bear change his life For me? Highly doubtful. Would mine be different? Highly probable. Everything is changing Set in motion.

Farms

So what now in the strange valley again where I eat what's meandering-- after my journey from The Big-- holding onto a love I could only blink at, I know some have died for less. See this nest: only sticks and grasses, plus mud. Looking so hastily constructed. Where I land. Near the farms.

Barely Alive

I made it in and out of there Barely alive. I turned into A noodle, almost a stranger. How could I say thank you And not even please in the face Of this most recent transformation Piling on so much make-up.

Saturated

It is finally raining in the high country and the newly planted lilacs will survive. They were so thirsty and now not to worry because all my watering is getting saturated anyway. I'm glad all the ghosts met each other (and the others) because seeing what's back there is just like you said.

American Dipper

He is minister of that linear territory. Flashing eyes and extra eyelids. Daring to go underwater. He feasts on nymphs for breakfast then gets eaten by a Dolly Varden at noon. He is always in danger. They say you can only love one landscape one lifetime. How untrue.

Bear Awareness

I became aware of bells tinkling, moon thought intruding that even the clouds didn't seem the same clouds as before but now the funny part: whatever happened was going to anyway. The train.

My Heathen Holiday

Part One. The Bear's Paw His grip was strong. I didn't know how his cave could be so warm and inviting. The lavender would not say. Another gripe: time with a capital T. Isn't this the case? My own cage was rattling. I could hardly remember it clearly. Point it out I thought. Make it stay. Remember when. Part Two. The Strawberry Moon It got divided up. After the dogs ran loose. It came to be. Nobody could see it. It got that far. Put it away now that you've used it been it said it. Learn its lumbering talk.

They Thought They Were In Europe

Today the contrast is stark. On one side cows in the river or on the other side. Cows instead of fish. At a distance. There's the blown-out crater of a volcano. Sheep. Hobo Lake. Grass hummocks. Sticky geranium. The river ran slightly uphill. Rattlesnake canyon. See what was down here. Because to be hard of hearing means hearing the rustling and that's our post-industrial landscape. The one with us and our trash.

Living (In Cougar Country)

The old marsh is a guideline-- follow it to firecracker, yarrow, willow, cottonwood. In cougar country (firecracker, yarrow) be alert when sitting quietly or stopping to rest. Be especially alert at dawn and dusk (the path). Because people take leave of their senses even following these guidelines. You can further your risk (how far do we need to go?) your dog at home (a guideline). Keep children close. Teach them to be cautious at dusk (the old marsh) to be cautious at dawn (could you tell me?) to be especially alert at dawn and dusk. Stay calm and stand your ground (what you just said). Maintain direct eye contact. Pick up any children but do so without bending back. Slowly away. Never turn your voice back. If the cougar seems aggressive raise your arms making yourself look larger just by clapping. Remember not to run.

More Taming

I went back to where I buried my grief. The place looked vacant but that was because she had changed into the cawing and I didn't want to get on with life during the day anymore. There were plans. Supposing the cawing could stop in time. What would it say? Something tame. Telling. Still wild and beyond that. She needed more taming about the road.

Will The Future

Will the future be a fight remembering love her less the road so hard so fast her fur matching nothing special only shadows between the lavender by the birdbath seeming asleep on top the cedar chips waiting to kill something feathery

Innereien

She taught us well So well that I did not know Anything but her fur Coal black Rainbow oil Loved the comforter In the art room Of course All those feathers Her nest I won't miss her. I am her now. I will kill many mice Leaving Offering up Their insides

Fang Den Hut

The rules don't seem to change But if you see the golden hat everything must stop fingernails growing fangs incredible lengths stacks Waving around in front Of your face

What Luck

They accepted it slightly. Their eyes were unchanging. Moon hiding behind rain. It didn't seem about time. We were folding. Being fooled. What luck. What swindlers.

Moon

All my baskets into one egg. Light brighter by half. Ponderosa. Watching. Done deal. Meadow. This side is clear. The glow does relate. A handle. A bucket. Listing. The other.

Peach Beach

Half moon half beach half lozenge. Stones broken small loaves of moon blue and caramel. Gulls' voices settling down. Cherries. Full trees. The orchard church. Its small grey steeple. The horses seem blind. The barking continuing on past the crates.

Paper, Metal

The tent knows the wind Better smooth stones Osprey eggs peaches ready Already lasting so long. I'm ready can't wait for Dreaming. Biggs dreaming. Everything in its exact spot I gave them paper. Metal.

Reverie Rustical

Smooth shimmer of trees. My escape continung strange. Old person. Me. I climbed reaching the fruit. In my dream I began too late just perfectly near. Sideways slipping near the place. All standing forgotten. Forward.

Truth River

Sun and Moon. Rain hiding day. Chances are slim but still. Revolving evens things out. It isn't her fault. Suddenly. But the drama continuing tinting clouds and their clowns.

Dismantling Hers

Plain to see. Work needs doing. A wrench. A hatchet. Broom. What comes apart. A little grease. I've assembled rags taken apart the motor still that ticking telling me. Barely hearing.

Later Silence

Her later silence did not include Albert. Or did it? That's the part I can't figure out. Was she somehow praying to that tiny boss? I thought about it and came up blank as per usual. Maybe fifty times. Look here, can't I convince her to spill the beans or at least share a few recipes?

Correspondence Course

Sun. Days. Space. Cat. A thin washing machine having a chat. Waiting to tell it like it is. d Don't stop. a messy love story.

Like Wow

So that's what Mom's Hootenanny! Was all about Right next to Ian and Silvia tile table too heavy to ship to Nome where we waited for the war to end with the others at Woodstock a bridge over the troubled Kusitrin teaching children well.

Voice

Then a melody about sunset and key jangling Lots of shade and trees and fountains Walking of course with architecture Gorgeous Vienna I'll borrow everything. Smoke and crap following. Bicycles Flowers black and sighing. La la.

River Dog

People at the butte have their own problems. Water was mentioned but also heat. Scattering birds chasing. Labrador retriever. Oh Daisy I am never forgetting you. Luckiamute. Our rocks and that bear bothering you so. Clay we used before meeting. Stories of the leash unhooking during all that swimming.

Abroad

Mongolia was great but home greater. My tigers didn't make it into the soup. We walked alongside them for a great while. Paying. Just thinking of the wine made us drunk with midnight joy after a long day strolling along in different cities no longer part of the crowd. I'm saving up my money. I am lying. I live better on the phone. Where everything is modern. Please put that back where you found it. My body. Here is where we say goodbye. Until the next scene. Look for something red. That will be my meat. Look for something else. That will be their cave.

Newish Worlds

Dancing and singing small in the new ghost town lots to drink before going abroad. Green is the color of my love's dress. The lights never looking so lonely so great the pageantry. They screamed when they spoke. The men were pawing at their bodies. They cried with heartbroken longing. I miss them. Their spell already.