Fire Falling

Photo: Brian Federle, Sunset, 1/2/2016

Fire falling

to golden waves

consume the world

with your love.

Solano Sunset

Tangerine sky

etched edge, black

cut ridge,

dusky plain

broad valley

waiting

for inky night

to fill

the great bowl

of earth.

(18 June 2011)

nightfall

grey limbs twisting

through emerald shade

reaching at last,

clear blue day!

fern overflowing,

with living lace

red rose embracing

impassioned grace.

the sun’s final flames

high leaves emblaze,

soft summer night claims

fading day.

(25 August 2011)

late in the day

late in the day

the shadows grow

                                                                       

night rises, upwelling,

overwhelming

delicate myrtles -

roses drowning

in the darkening tide

(7 July 2015)

star of the sea

edge of night,

cold consuming

blackening hills,

clears barely

the deepening ridge

bright tears -

star of the sea.

Night Rises

“There is not a flower that opens, not a seed that falls into the ground, and not an ear of wheat that nods on the end of its stalk in the wind that does not preach and proclaim the greatness and mercy of God to the whole world.

There is not an act of kindness or generosity, not an act of sacrifice done, or a word of peace and gentleness spoken, not a child’s prayer uttered, that does not sing hymns to God.”

Thomas Merton, “Friday Psalm Prayer,” A Book of Hours

night rises

from the still-warm earth

climbs rough trunks to

higher planes

to where leaves still burn

in golden flames.

Sky is Slate

sky is slate

trees like surf

rolling waves

rush in

converge

night’s rising

the earth unfurls

darkness filling

the waning

world.