Evening Meditation

Our apple tree is exuberant tonight,

its white blossoms flare within emerald shades

of our big cottonwoods,

and the flashing red finch descends

busy among the bursting white flames,

when suddenly, by a small boy enraptured,

it poses as the guardian halcyon.

Love in April is like this,

measured in flashes

of red wings in trees

and scored in lines of

molten sunlight, pouring

through our knotty fence

into the silky darkness

of our star-drenched night

(4/5/2010)

Winter Tree

Photo Brian Federle: Desert Tree, Palm Springs, 2016

The winter tree 

does not move.

Its wide trunk 

plunges into graven earth, 

unseen roots, grasping hands

feel deeply the living soil,

hold firm anchorage

against the coming storm,

but rising wood, thin

though strong enough 

to paint slender lines, 

trails into purer air, 

gives shelter

to Christmas birds.

They hunch on stems, quietly

waiting to sing open 

the dawn.

(12/23/2011)

The One Thing

“Happiness consists in finding out precisely what the ‘one thing necessary’ may be, in our lives, and in gladly relinquishing all the rest. For then, by a divine paradox, we find that everything else is given us together with the one thing we needed.”  Thomas Merton

rain

falling

tenderly

on spring grass, on leaves

bending as two mourning doves moan,

beat wide their wings and brush back the sky, falling low to

dark earth. Gladly would I give it

all for a moment

in the glow

of your

eyes!

(9 April 2013)

The Ground of Life

“He who is alone and is conscious of what his solitude means, finds himself simply in the ground of life.”   Thomas Merton.

I am alone, listening,
to every sound.

The breeze
whispers poems,

the plaintive dove
softly moans

in that small place
above our front-porch,

and tells me that love
is certain.

To My Wife in Mourning

bright day,still birds, black
spots on the blue sky, slightly
sway in trees, and wait

for winter to stay
or summer at last to come
like we’re waiting for

the pain to stop, death
to give way to the winter
sun’s soft, warm embrace.

(for our son, Brian, 3/4/1986 - 3/25/2017)

Suisun Spring

Photo: Brian Federle, "Camping" 3-25-2008


the green glow
of our cottonwoods
newly clothed in the gentle April sun ....

our apple tree,
still skeletal,
intimating cotton buds
promising green glory to come,

and the grass!
all winter-yellow evaporated,
shouting like a
third-grade leprechaun
skipping across the playground
in the school's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

but most unforeseen,
along the rough fence
the vinca
blazing with royal light
in the deep, verdant shade
of our cottonwoods.

(12 April 2010)

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)

Thanksgiving

Full from the feast

table laded

with fragrant dressing,

steam of onion and celery,

tender turkey and

five kinds of pies

The family gathered.

My parents smiled

at our busy banter

brothers

and sisters nudging and

teasing,  beaming

in the glow

of that happy day

so long ago.

Now you and I gather

our sons around us;

again we pause, pray

and eat the bounty

of this bright Thanksgiving Day.

They say that some things,

kind hearts,

hearty laughs,

enduring love

are so good

they persist long down  

the thankful

generations.

-----------
(for Brian we are so thankful)

Lovesong

I will be there always
even though you don't know me.

My life will shine in your eyes,
O child of my child.

With your small, quick breaths
I will breathe again,
and when you cry
my faithful heart will again break.

So look for me in the still, high trees;
the green brilliance of the winking sun
will be our secret signal.

You don't know me, but
your soul, your golden love,
your fears and hopes
I will keep safe in my heart,

and in the soft wind will I sing to you
O beautiful child.
I will guard you
as you play.
 
Look up at dancing spring clouds
and shout your joy skyward
to me!

(8 December 2010)

Serenade

“We are always traveling and traveling as if we did not know where we were going. “ Thomas Merton

Warm wind stirring our
tallest trees.  Sunset retrieves
another hot day.

Descends silken night;
passion ignites summer's sky,
stars, like wine, delight!

In cool rooms I'll wait
for you to awake. O come!
We'll begin again!

(31 Oct 2013)

Larry's Produce

The market rings with laughter.

In Spanish and German,

Russian and a dozen other tongues

weary children cry

in the mid-morning sun

as old eyes, wise hands

prod peach and mango

mounded peas and beans

looking for any flaw.

Finding none,

they fill their bags

with the fragrant gifts

of this milk-

and-honeyed

land.

(28 June 2014)

Aubade: Suisun Valley

Photo by Peter LaTourrette.  North American Birds Photo GalleryConditions of Use

“Love is not mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid and ardent response of the whole man.” 

Thomas Merton

Waves of grey light

wash over our small valley.

Cool morning

sea-born breeze prevails

for now.

High-toned birds wait

for the golden sun to ignite

our swaying trees.

Only in the darker eves

do I hear the mourning dove’s

steady moan.

In silver-blue tones,

he bids his love

awake!

(31 Oct 2013)

Down a Bright Way (In memorium Maryalice Claire, friend and mentor)

Close to the center, 

near to where silence

fills my straining ears,

where long years

of searching end, 

I find you waiting

my old friend.

You take my hand

and in a glance

know all.

Without a word

down a bright way

we walk.

(16 September 2012)

Saint

Louis Tiffany and Company, "Dogwood" Design Window: 1910-1915.

“The pale flowers of the dogwood outside this window are saints. The little yellow flowers that nobody notices on the edge of that road are saints looking up into the face of God.”  Merton, Thomas, When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature

Her black eyes gaze

with pleasure.

My hand

flows slowly over her sinew, 

ears, fur; she purrs in praise 

that  life is right, 

hunger sated, 

love remains.

Looking into her eyes

I see a flame

beyond her understanding

beyond my understanding:

the spark

of being

freely given, 

freely accepted.

(31 Oct. 2013)

Sonnet for a Grey Morning

Another grey morning, much like the last
and for tomorrow, more fog’s the forecast.
When days seem the same, life always seems cold.
night flows to night, the sad world grows old.
As clouds wrap my soul in still,fatal pall
hearts must be silent, though bold blood calls
for death to cruel winter, and end to dark days,
fair spring to release enthralled golden rays.

But looking at you, I see in your eyes
the brilliance lost from blue summer's last sky
and when you smile, in your warm glow I feel
your love overwhelm me, new suns revealed.
Overcast, confined though the earth may be
with you in my day, spring’s born endlessly.

(31 Oct 2013)

Morning Light

Look! The morning light, slight brightening
To the east, over the rooftop
Of the next house, through our
Open window, the sky
Not yet blue, but
Rising to the
Edge of
Promise.

Listen! Those early birds, looking
For the unlucky worm,
Are singing their delight
In this lucky, limitless
Morning light.

(31 Oct 2013)

Gardenia

Leaf from the Album "Dreaming of Traveling while in Bed (臥遊)"
ink and color on paper, 27.8 x 37.3 cm, Palace Museum, Beijing

On the high round table it stands;

small plant in a plastic pot

tender leaves

turn to the narrow window,

angled

to meet the faithful morning sun.

We water it daily,

carry it carefully

to the deep sink for a good, long drink

and then back to its own bright place

estranged from the wilder yard by double-pane.

Sudden as September,

it happens.

In the grey morning,

bathed in their own pure light

bright blooms, fragrant breath

of insistent life,

the sweet song

of survival.

(31 Oct. 2013)

Love in the Afternoon

“Love affects more than our thinking and our behavior toward those we love. It transforms our entire life.” Thomas Merton.


I wish
we could live
forever,

our bodies throbbing
with endless desire,
rising higher
with inexorable fire!

Then would I love you
unceasingly, like the  sun
embracing with eternal light
the constant moon,
beloved wife.

(31 October 2013)