In my next life I want to be a bartender. There is a particularly good one at Harry’ s Bar in Florence and I have his picture above my desk as my friend just sent it to me. His name is “Leo” and everybody adores him. He has a ready smile, a quick wit,  and…

Read more

I hate being patient. It is annoying and generally makes my skin itch. I can’t sit still and I find myself longing to eat junk food or smoke when I am trying to be patient. I am usually trying to be patient about something: weather, traffic, doctor’s offices, airports, men, daytime, nightime, anytime, restaurants, men,…

Read more

  The Great Blue Heron       The great blue heron returned last night. Flew in under the cover of darkness, Folding his wings into an envelope of marsh and beach grass, Waiting to allow me The pleasure of his return Until morning.   In the dampness of November The heron’s message of surprise…

Read more

    Impending       Driving south on 101 past the silt of San Jose, Leapfrogging around monster trucks and family vans, The mountains drawn like an ovulation chart, Beyond the flat bed valley, And I’m testing cruise control.   Faster. Slower. “At any time you may exit cruise control by pressing on the…

Read more

Creation       She wants to hold his head in her lap and each hand holding a side pull it split-open Precisely so each cerebellum would be encapsulated like a walnut inside a split shell. Then she would hold up first the left side and then the right to her eyes so close she…

Read more

My daughter asked me the other day why it was that when she is someplace really beautiful she feels lonely. I wasn’t sure how to answer that question as I agreed with her completely. I love nature and have found myself in a lot of incredible places but I often feel lonely iin these places.…

Read more

Vermont: Fall’s End    Lying in a bath in Vermont in the early evening With a small candle and a wet dog in the corner, She wonders If the man downstairs she came here with Is as safe as the warm bathwater and the rain falling to music. The window is divided into ticktacktoe squares…

Read more

  Riding       Take me for a ride in your big German car. The one where the windows slide up over the world, And we glide all over the city, not talking. So silently and smoothly as I sit in the leather molding, me like a Hapsburg princess bowing and waving to my…

Read more

Lake trails are like a natural labyrinth as a walk around a lake gives you a sense of completeness and finality.

Read more

  Looking for a Favorite Place       I move when the light between the hours of four and six becomes too strong, And I am restless with waiting and counting. I move when the house is explored and there are no more secrets And I know where the carpenter ants have done their…

Read more