(finishing the last)

finishing the last
glass of eggnog with the last
dear book of the year

Christmas Time

Spices and glitter mix and mingle
with cozy, jolly food and folks
as carols and choruses jingle
in rooms full of stories and jokes.

(sampling of the city)

sampling of the city:
snaking post office line
10 days before Christmas

Thanksgiving Traffic

Three miles in an
hour and a half --
bumper-to-bumper
interstate congestion and
stomach indigestion,
angry drivers with
hungry kids, no
exit in sight, and
no explanation.
Arrivals delayed;
hugs and hand-
shakes on hold;
dinners postponed.
It was easy to get
irritated and impatient,
until we saw
the white sheet
on the ground.
Suddenly, we were
thankful for the
fume-filled air that
we were breathing.

(Red, gold, brown, green and)

Red, gold, brown, green and
orange leaves form mosaics
on neighborhood lawns.

(The tree bark gleamed)

The tree bark gleamed
with fresh raindrops as
the squirrel scurried home.

(cat in a frenzy)

cat in a frenzy:
from the window --
watching falling leaves

(a steeping black brew)

a steeping black brew
my favorite morning mug
nectar of the leaves

(First day of autumn)

First day of autumn:
Reading on the porch with a
roast in the Crock-Pot.

Summer Simplicity

As summer begins to
close her eyes in
exchange for fall's
awakening, I want
to remember these
days; what it feels
like to slip into
sandals, and hop into
the car without a
jacket and drive to
meet some friends
with Tennessee's green
hills in front of me and
the sun on my back.

Little Did We Know (Becoming Us)

The day I met you,
I didn't know
that this stranger would
become the person
I know the best.

When I first shook your hand,
little did I know
that I would
hold your hand today
and commit my forever
to you.

The first time that I
sat across the table from you
and looked into your eyes,
I couldn't have known
that those hazel eyes
would soon
see the good
and the bad in me
and accept me anyway --
the same eyes that
I will wake up to
every morning and
close in restful sleep beside
each night.

Those first drinks
on that first date --
a latte and a root beer --
would mark the beginning
of a lifetime of toasts --
culminating
in a champagne toast
on this day, our wedding day.

How could we have known
that our first conversation about
music and Patty Griffin
would reveal a shared passion
that would bond us together?
We didn't know then
that one of Patty's songs
would serve as the
conclusion to our
commitment ceremony today.

I couldn't have known that day
that you would change my life today.

Little did we know that
you and I
would become
us.

Grade School Glories

for Ashley and Lindsay

We did it to
amuse ourselves
during the ride to
my community
softball games.
My little sisters
and I played producers,
creating makeshift
movie stars out of our
afternoon snacks.
We tore our thinly
sliced lunchmeat
into strips and gave
them each a name,
as we cast our own
mini musicals,
starring Miss Piggy,
Mr. Angus and
Mrs. Gobblet.
Somehow the
dancing pieces of
ham, beef and turkey
kept our attention
until we reached the
ball diamond, where
I would trade my
sandwich meat
for a glove.

(a cardinal and a bluebird)

a cardinal and a bluebird
sitting on a white fence
suddenly feeling patriotic

(summertime snow)

summertime snow
cottonwood seeds
float, flit and blow

Sunflowers and Birch Trees (Let It Be)

Just as there is
a myriad of
flower varieties
on the earth and
a host of tree species
in the world,
there are countless
types of women
on the earth and
innumerable sorts of men
in the world.
"Flowers" are not
confined to "lilies"
and trees are not all oaks.
The earth is a beautiful space,
thanks to the
vast array
of flowers and trees
on display.
A world which awakens
to the full spectrum
of femininity and masculinity
is a glorious place.

(cardinal bathing)

cardinal bathing
under the coffee shop's
downspout

(morning tea after)

morning tea after
the morning rain
drop after drop

East Side Storytellin'

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I have posted a poetry performance from the archives.
 
On July 7, 2015, I was thrilled to serve as the featured writer for East Side Story's East Side Storytellin' eposide 62, along with singer/songwriter Lauren Farrah.  You can hear my poetry set at the very beginning of the podcast.  We're "movin' on up to the east side," storytellin' style, y'all!

Civil Conundrum Continued

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

"The Bible Says" rounds out my contributions to the 2012 Robert McCurley-led poetry/photography project "Civil Conundrum" in which Randy Foster and I had the pleasure of participating.  Not only did we present the project at The Arts Company in Nashville, Tenn., (most of) the pieces were also featured in an exhibit at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and in the pages of the anthology Filtered Through Time.

Civil Conundrum Clips

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

This set of poems represents a portion of a collaborative project initiated by photographer Robert McCurley, who asked my fellow poet Randy Foster and me to write pieces based on his Civil-War-themed collection, Civil Conundrum.  This performance was held on Feb. 11, 2012 at The Arts Company in Nashville, Tenn.

Tea and Poetry

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

This video features a couple of pieces about Earl Grey tea, a moment captured during the "A Poet and a Politician Walk into a Coffee Bar" tour my friend Randy Foster and I did in the Greater Nashville Area.  Enjoy a spot of tea with a side of poetry, circa 2011!

(The tree bark gleamed)

The tree bark gleamed
with fresh raindrops as
the squirrel scurried home.

Happy International Women's Day!

Setting the Record Straight, Practically Speaking

Straight women who dress
comfortably and practically
don't dress
comfortably and practically
because they have
"let themselves go"
or because they have
"given up on men."
Straight women who dress
comfortably and practically
dress comfortably and practically
because they want to be
comfortable and practical.

Gay women who dress
comfortably and practically
don't dress
comfortably and practically
because they
"don't want to be women"
or because they
"want to be men."
Gay women who dress
comfortably and practically
dress comfortably and practically
because they want to be
comfortable and practical.

The Life Span of Love

from having butterflies
to sharing houseflies
to watching fireflies in our twilight

Teatime

every sip
every drip
a present
to yourself

watch it steep
inhale deep
stealing moments
for yourself

black, green, white
pure delight
with a friend or
by yourself

Snow Garden

Our yard was a garden
of snow and our father
was the gardener. He
made snow forts and
an obstacle course of
sorts for my sisters and
me in the front yard one
winter. It was an exciting
adventure, and a little
bit scary, but I felt safe
knowing that Dad was
guiding the sled and
guarding the fort. I still
remember his laugh
that day as we squealed
with delight, holding tight
to the orange, plastic sled.

In Honor of Mary Oliver (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019)

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

-- Mary Oliver, "The Summer Day"

My One Wild and Precious Life

My one wild and precious life
does not belong to my
parents or predecessors
nor to my
pastor or priest or preacher or pope.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to my
president
or to my
principal
or to my
peers
or the
privileged pillars
of my
patriarchal society.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to
politicians
or to the
"pretty people"
or the
power hungry
or to my
pocketbook, property or prosperity.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to a
painful or problematic past
or to
perfectionism
or my
propensity for people pleasing
nor to a
profession, promotion or pursuit of prestige.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to
purveyors of prejudice
or to
peddlers of propaganda
nor to the
principles that someone else holds.
My one wild and precious life
belongs to me
to protect and preserve it,
to pursue peace,
to practice compassion,
and to progress as the particular person I was put on the planet to be.

(I remain rich)

I remain rich
as long as I am surrounded by
books, music and art.