Abernathy Road Roundabout

Bronze angel, strong arms

lifting the rainbow,

you stand in the center.

Our fast cars veer around

north, then east

to shop, to school,

to home

but we can’t see

what you see.

Even the truckers,

who lumber down

Abernathy Road

and enter the circle

with heady grapes

ready for press, for barrel,

for thick, green bottle

steer past you.

Our lives are scheduled over-full.

We all have

some place else to go

until unfulfilled,

we return at last

to your bright center, 

and in your embracing arms

we rest.

(16 July 2011)

Author's note:

Image: Mother Nature by Lisa Reinertson, in traffic circle at Rockville and Abernathy Roads, Suisun Valley, CA.

The Waiting

The fields are ready,
furrows made deep
for farmers’ prize seed.

Vineyards recede
into straight narrow lanes.
and twisted vines
in cruciform lines
conceal summer’s new wine.

They wait, well quenched
by winter’s rain.
Sweet tears
drench the ground with
baptismal springs,
and leafy green shade
will soon to spread
over orchard lanes.

We wait
as the moon, crescent mother
cradles her star-swollen belly,
and amorous crickets leap into the night
to sing her a waiting lullaby.

The World is a Sacred Vessel

“The world is a sacred vessel . . .” Thomas Merton

blue vessel

in black vacuum

miracle world

encircling

thrall of this perfect star

sacred vessel,

His living cup

to beloved proffered, 

wedding gift

beyond measure.

(3 May 2012)

Edge of Extinction

*Reinertson, Neptune's Daughter, Ceramic photo credit:Scott McCue* Edge of Extinction Ceramic Sculpture by Lisa Reinertson Pence Gallery Davis, CA April 26 - June 14

When the pelicans fall
my throbbing heart will erupt
into hot rain, cloud-burst
to drown your dirty towns
fill your black lungs
‘till, clean at last,
you will feel
the pelicans’
pain.

(7 March 2013)

Natural Force

The earth shrugs
and beneath the sea
mountains lift shifting waves
driving man
to higher
planes.

Primal force defines
the earth
as we are defined
by the rise and fall
of breath.

Yet contented we live
by the constant sea
as darker oceans
roil deep
beneath our feet,

and transfixed
we gaze as eternal waves,
pounding thrusting stones,
shatter to frothy foam.

No wonder, then,
when deeper lungs exhale,
in terror we flee,
and cry to God
for mercy.

(10/30/2012)

Mohave

Rocks carelessly cast

from granite hills,

trapped by gravity and time,

slant skyward,

knives pointed at the throat

of heaven.

Like God’s memory this desert stretches

beyond our ken.

Ten-thousand cliffs rise from the level bed,

of a forgotten sea;

long ago in steam it rose

and jet-stream borne,

races through unmeasured time

in endless storm.

Aubade Wake Up and See

Wake

up

and see

how the sun

lights the top-most leaves

sets astir the delta breeze, shrugs

off night and drives darkness down into the flashing sea!

Black-jay

Black-jay

falls to verdant earth

searching

living soil as

soft rain

soothes the bitter truth

of being.

Tree at Dawn

tree at dawn, bursting

seed, rising sun, emerging 
summer’s golden day.