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.

One Fine Day

Note: I wrote this on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day last year -- a triply historic holiday.

On MLK Day,
inauguration day,
on the day
that a gay
Cuban-American poet
read a poem
to America,
I am moved
to tears
in the sunlight
of my study,
thankful
for the sunshine,
my books, and
the partner
our dog, cat and I
await, who will
join us after work
on this fine day.

(Neighborly birds)

Neighborly birds
congregating atop the
Neighborhood Market sign

(I’m too sad to take)

I'm too sad to take
the Christmas tree down; it looks
too sad to leave up.

"New" haiku for a day like today:

new year
new courage
fresh as the snow

(last glass of eggnog)

last glass of eggnog
on the last day of the year
last sips; last seconds