The Death of Roscoe

I look at him

He looks at me

I cry.

By the refrigerator

I watch him

He waits

He sits by me. 

He lies on me

His heart has a tiny beat

His tail is is tapping

I touch his bumpy spine

I say I love you

His eyes squint a little

He sleeps

He staggers a little

I look at him

He looks at me

I cry. 

Last Fall

Geese move in and out of formation in shimmering ribbon

Tied and crossed over, wrapping the sky.

Yes, I asked to be cleansed of judgment day

and what binds me now is loosened in the north pointing arrow

my hardest heart lifted and the sun comes through the gray clouds.

Dear God I asked them all the family stories, and see

that this could be lifted out by the roots.

Bare

There's a deer pounding down the snow with hooves, 

and my gosh, sometimes you just gotta lie down,

bend, tuck, collapse into the bare white bed of winter. 

Cinderella's New Year

My mind thought with my eyes,
it might be better for me this morning.

I barefooted around the kitchen,
opening and closing drawers
full of Knives, Forks, and Spoons.

How truly alone is it to wish for a prince.

Counter crumbs are for small mice.
Dry roses curtsy in a vase.
Stale champagne is poured down the sink.

The day has too much heaviness to be
the start of a new year.