The Secret Keeper

Fortunate the mother who lives the unflawed life of lore, perfect, a smooth vase, snow white, the finest ashes left, … More

The Palm-Reading Time

I see me catch the glass bowl admire my juggling as I stoop down I go in slow motion watch … More

It Felt So Good

That Sony radio’s cheap black leather strapjust barely tied the music to my wrist.So poorly made I feared it just … More

Some Peace

We meet our elderly guide in the late afternoon,the graying skies adding to the somber atmosphereoverlaying the double-named London/Derry landscape. … More

How To Screw

In my younger days, it was so easy, so straightforward.Really, in my house there was only one way to do … More

Mind in the Time

Remember that, she says, as we sit sipping coffee, I was all whipped-cream nosed. It has been 40 years since … More

Growing Soft

Sorry to say, but several things about you bother me.For one, you are cleverly invisible most times.I hear your soft … More

Add the Garden

For a long time you have cultured all these seeds,sprouted them like Mother Nature puttering herself,transferred them gently from little, … More

Volcano

It was too good to be true, finally, my plan to retire on the Big Island.At 30 I settled on … More

Time’s Gift

It’s that late hourBeer in handThe yard work done againI watch the close of the faded irisPurple and whiteNot as … More

Happy Some Before Dawn

Quieter, still quieter, quiet down the energy pent up today, for such recklessness cannot sit wasting by the window ledge … More

Each Journey a First

The idea is knowing I can go somewhere, and I amcreating the first pattern of steps no one has ever … More

On Leaving

As porous as air, sliced Thin, I fall between See you way over there perhaps, or Not, maybe hear your … More

The Packrat

People wonder how I became a professor. It matters little to them that I’ve published a dozen important books and … More

To Give Again

“To another Valentine’s Day,” the older man said, lifting his pint. The two, sitting side by side, clinked glasses, took … More

Giving up Coffee for Good

At the destruction of the world I sipped coffee that was too hot. Like everyone else, I’ll guess, I didn’t … More

Playing Old

When it’s time for me to pretend I’ve grown old,I’ve decided the most important thingI’ll need to be able to … More

Flight

We’re off now, I guess, with your leaving here,since I’m pretty sure that ends whatever this was.O‘ahu is too small … More

Don’t, Please, Don’t!

The Police, I think about them all the time these days.This morning I’m standing in Starbucks,where they’ve removed the social … More

The Age of Ice

Reflecting on you and the lake ice, I watched how it broke upin wintertime, huge blocks working against each otheras … More