Faith

Photo Brian Federle: Overcast in Oregon, 2008

Faith

is seeing my blood

coursing through

shut eyelids

and feeling

blood pushing down

into my arms and legs,

believing

it will soon return

to my darkly

beating heart.

But faith is more than

seeing

or believing.

Faith shines

like the cloistered sun

concealed by thick

autumn clouds.

Faith knows

all my childish lies,

and gently laughs

at my innocence.

Faith stalks me,

deep into my desert

where, trembling,

I wait for her famished arrow.

I love faith;

in her passionate embrace

I fall into my

darkest night.

I fear faith;

slave to her lacerating truth

reluctantly I walk

into her relentless light.

Bridge at Montezuma Slough

We drive to see

where the twisted road will lead.

Salty river, winding slough,

dark water

rising to frothy cap

slapping concrete pier,

moon driven waves race

back to beckoning bay.

Finally we must decide...

cross the low bridge

or turn back,

but the flood is so close to the deck!

We feel tidal vibration,

basso profondo,

rattling sub-sonic

in our ears

as together

we face our fear,

and slowly cross,

eyes always ahead

til again we feel sure earth

solid beneath our tread.

(2013  - 2018)

Starling Flight: Murmurations

Starlings whorl, 

gyre curls

rise, turn, drop

to airy knot

rippling mist, round

folds, cloud 

undulant

when, without warning,

they light and draw a tight

line of night 

on thin wires.