Coyote Chorus

My cat hears it before I do. She lifts her head from my lap and cocks her ears. What is it? I ask. Her eyes widen. Then the ribbon of sound lilts on the morning air, a high call, a harmonizing wail, and the full chorus sings in the dawn. Such is the practice of...
Tough Love

Tough Love

  I am here to mess you up to inconvenience you disappoint you bring you to your knees.   My role is not to go along be silent and compliant to sit and watch as your leaves yellow and heart withers amidst busy days.   Instead, I rush in like a tsunami...
The Art of Flight

The Art of Flight

  Like a bird who can’t enjoy flying but instead only pecks, eats and drinks, I race from one activity to the next.   I end each day stretched out on the bed wanting nothing but sleep.   But suddenly I awaken. I watch my movements fast and jerky, my...
Eternal Peace

Eternal Peace

We glide among sleeping aspens rime ice coating branches above our heads, a snow cloud under our skis.   Within this gray-sky cathedral all is quiet except the creaking limbs as they dance to the wind’s song.   We trek deeper and deeper into the misty woods...

The Limping Lizard

The lizard limps down the middle of the dirt road. I stop the car, climb out, herd him to the side. He only perseveres back to the center, with a three-legged limp, right front leg held high.   Heart screams, no, poor baby!   He should be lifted on all fours...