Winter Hiatus :: December 22--January 1

Happy Holidays!
May the peace of the season
Find room in your hearts.

Always Be Prepared :: December 21, 2007

Packing my suitcase,
I put in 10 pairs of socks.
I’ll be gone eight days ...

Writing Night #3 :: December 20, 2007

I wish that writing
Was like the shake of my heart,
The sigh of my lungs.

Immoral Morsels :: December 19, 2007

’Tis the season for
Devilish sugar dressed as
Angelic cookies.

You Are What You Drink :: December 18, 2007

Word by deadly word,
I take in the gossip like
Sips of slow poison.

Please Don’t Blow :: December 17, 2007

Lust boils inside me,
Steadily building pressure,
Showing signs of steam.

That Seahawks Tint :: December 16, 2007

I watch Seattle
Show its true football colors:
Plain mediocher.

Don’t Tell PETA :: December 15, 2007

Why do yippy dogs
Make me want to punt their butts
Into Lake Union?

Doused :: December 14, 2007

Twelve hours of sleep
Calm my throat’s raging fires
Into red embers.

Circus Freak :: December 13, 2007

I break a glass and
Swallow its rough shards. At least,
That’s how my throat feels.

Losing Proposition :: December 12, 2007

Tasks swarm around me
Like a black cloud of vexed bees.
I duck and run home.

Some Walls Are Good :: December 11, 2007

Here’s a conundrum:
My art becomes freer when
It has boundaries.

The Daily Grind :: December 10, 2007

Finding poetry
In my mundane life is like
Licking sandpaper.

An Object in the Park :: December 9, 2007

She saw “cherry pie”;
I saw “PB&J sandwich.”
What was it really?

1 A.M. Concert :: December 8, 2007

The bedsprings above
Squeak in rhythm as they sing
Teenage love duets.

Sweet Seduction :: December 7, 2007

The cup of cocoa —
My first in more than a year —
Fills me with dark joy …

Bread Line :: December 6, 2007

At the youth shelter,
I offer Heather warm bread
And warmer wishes.

Fragmented :: December 5, 2007

My day has broken
Like Humpty Dumpty. Sadly,
I’m like the king’s men.

Good Morning Picasso! :: December 4, 2007

Stark light from the east
Flattens Seattle’s skyline
Into cubist art.

Mind Over Splatter :: December 3, 2007

Despite driving rain,
We carry our Christmas tree
Gaily through the streets.

Monthly Departure :: December 2, 2007

Dollars wave goodbye,
Their journey to creditors
About to begin …

Wintery Demise :: December 1, 2007

Feathery snowflakes
Coat Seattle in cotton,
Then shrink from the rain.

Wisdom-Smack :: November 30, 2007

Studying Proverbs,
I’m back-handed by wisdom,
Left reeling, red-faced.

Irresponsible :: November 29, 2007

Irresponsible:
When I’m late to the office
Because I can be.

My Superpower :: November 28, 2007

My superpower
Would be to stop car engines
Of stupid drivers.

Where to Start? :: November 27, 2007

My obligations
Feel like massive, endless walls
In a sprawling maze.

Hello in There? :: November 26, 2007

I go to the well
Of inspiration to find
It’s out of order.

Blank :: November 25, 2007

Decades of her life
Penciled inside are erased
By Jan’s Alzheimer’s.

Montana Therapy :: November 24, 2007

Walking lazily,
Kicking rocks along the road,
We breathe out rank stress.

Not Your Normal Hangover :: November 23, 2007

Waking up groggy,
I recall what did me in:
Late-night pinochle.

Christmas Spirit :: November 22, 2007

The silvery strand
Of cheap tinsel gleams with joy,
Transforming our tree.

Culture Shock :: November 21, 2007

“Is prosciutto cheese?”
Small-town Montana is quaint.
We miss Seattle.

A Kind of Death :: November 20, 2007

Like a black mamba,
An asphalt road snakes its way
Through my childhood home.

Should’ve Worn Sneakers :: November 19, 2007

For a brief moment,
Today’s to-do list felt like
A 10K footrace.

Picasso Was Right :: November 18, 2007

Art washes our souls,
Cleaning away the coarse dust
Of everyday life.

Glassblowing 101 :: November 17, 2007

Artists dip steel rods
Into molten honey to
Form three glowing bowls.

Just An Illusion :: November 16, 2007

Scrubbing our bathtub,
I remove months of sludge so
Guests won’t know we’re slobs.

The Least of These :: November 15, 2007

At the soup kitchen
I recall as I serve bread:
Jesus was homeless.

That’s MR. Lightweight … :: November 14, 2007

A bottle of wine ---
Some grim, edgy Cotes du Rhone ---
Renders me squiffy.

Sunny Side Up :: November 13, 2007

Leaves like toasted bread
Are gently buttered yellow
By the morning sun.

Cranky :: November 12, 2007

Biting wind and rain ---
Seems today woke up on the
Wrong side of the bed.

Altitude & Attitude :: November 11, 2007

Dressed in tawny clouds,
Mount Rainier acts like Nature’s
Top supermodel.

Freefall :: November 10, 2007

My blood sugar drops
Like some out-of-control plane
Spinning toward a cliff.

Magical Week :: November 9, 2007

‘Tis a mystery:
Monday I’m five weeks behind.
Friday --- I’m caught up.

Pummeled :: November 8, 2007

I feel like a steak
As Katie works me with her
Tenderizer fists.

Therapy Session #20 :: November 7, 2007

My playground bully
Appears after 30 years.
This time I punch him.

The Sound of Industry :: November 6, 2007

Gray cubicle walls
Emit a bumblebee hum
From my toil within.

Irish Rock-God :: November 5, 2007

From the bare Moore stage,
Glen Hansard grabs his guitar
And plays with our souls.

Urban Shopping :: November 4, 2007

Worse than a dog fight,
Two snarling women each grab
For the last cheap coat.

Their True Colors :: November 3, 2007

Cotton-candy pink
And tangerine duke it out
In tonight’s sunset.

Fevered Dreams :: November 2, 2007

Melting faces and
Fuchsia poodles share brain time
In my febrile state.

I Feel Like A Puppet :: November 1, 2007

First my body boils,
Then switches to an icy clime.
The virus chuckles.

File It Under “Peace” :: October 31, 2007

Peace like a river
Flows through my body as I
File my paperwork.

Happy Birthday (Kind Of) :: October 30, 2007

Mom turns 70 …
Wait a minute. That makes me ...
Older than I'd like!

Challenged Be-leafs :: October 29, 2007

Leaves in denial:
They cling to their green and pray
As red streaks appear …

Happy Anniversary (To Me) :: October 28, 2007

Hand-in-hand we stroll
Into the lush clover fields
Of year number two.

Lazy-Day Play :: October 27, 2007

Five glowing aspens
Peek in on our afternoon
Of lazy Upwords.

Death Splash :: October 26, 2007

Gently lapping waves
Bleed white foam, ripped open by
A rogue sea lion.

Weekend Persuasion :: October 25, 2007

“Three days of quiet,”
Whisper the San Juan Islands.
“Just step on the boat …”

Hoovered :: October 24, 2007

Acting like seven
Ravenous vacuum cleaners,
Meetings suck my day.

Night Watch :: October 23, 2007

The full-bodied moon
Draws up its scarf of clouds and
Starts its chilly guard.

Oops! :: October 22, 2007

It’s hard to explain
How I nearly squashed my wife
On my drive to work.

Fluidity :: October 21, 2007

During our breakfast
Conversation flows with ease,
Like my spilled water.

Dear Inspiration ... :: October 20, 2007

Dear Inspiration ---
Why do you hide in red leaves?
Please visit me too.

Follow the Lights … :: October 19, 2007

Like will-o’-the-wisps,
Glowing balls tease us at our
Nighttime golf tourney.

Indecisive :: October 18, 2007

Oh, capricious day ---
Gusting winds, cold rain … and sun?
Please make up your mind.

New Sensation :: October 17, 2007

A new sensation:
I arrive for my meeting
Before it begins.

Abstract Art :: October 16, 2007

Leaves and dirt create
A Jackson Pollock painting
On top of my car.

Dominoes :: October 15, 2007

Tasks, like dominoes,
Tumble out of control and
Cascade around me.

Day Intercepted :: October 14, 2007

Why does a brown ball
Chased by mod gladiators
Dominate my day?!

Natural Fabric :: October 13, 2007

A crisp morning fog
Drapes the proud buildings in its
Diaphanous lace.

The Gift After the Gift :: October 12, 2007

Tina’s glowing smile
Shines more light than a thousand
Flaming birthday cakes.

Tingly :: October 11, 2007

Creativity,
Electric in its presence,
Tingles through my skin.

The Massage :: October 10, 2007

Soft hands twist and squeeze
My brittle body until
Toxins scream and flee.

High School Ghosts :: October 9, 2007

High school ghosts join us,
Beckoned by our discussion
Of regrets and dreams.

Eluded :: October 8, 2007

I pursue my day
'Til it ducks between meetings
And scampers away.

The Bad Kind of Lazy :: October 7, 2007

I spend my Sunday
Hiding under blankets and
Escaping my chores.

Tiny Wonder :: October 6, 2007

The baby’s pinky,
Such a slender wisp of flesh,
Hooks more than my hand.

Nature's Carpet :: October 5, 2007

With each step I bounce
On golden pine needles and
Blood-red maple leaves.

Expectations :: October 4, 2007

Our expectations
Define our reality.
People don’t forget.

Commonality :: October 3, 2007

My throbbing ankle
Reminds me of a clear truth:
That pain connects us.

Autumn Irony :: October 2, 2007

The blustery day,
Slate gray and ragged, warms me
Like a wool blanket.

Consistency :: October 1, 2007

I am consistent
Only in my utter lack
Of consistency.

Dancer :: September 30, 2007

The dancer steps, spins,
Arches her back, lifts her arms.
My soul sways along.

Reconciled :: September 29, 2007

Oh, to reconcile ---
To feel the warmth of the sun
Flowing from your face.

Elephant Foot :: September 28, 2007

One white bony foot.
One purple elephant foot.
Three days since my sprain …

Outstretched :: September 27, 2007

Kristin reaches out.
Aware of the second chance,
I quickly grab hold.

That Thing I Do :: September 26, 2007

How I do one thing
Suggests how I do all things.
Actions show my hand.

Speeding Ticket :: September 25, 2007

My ankle twists, pops,
Then imitates a grapefruit.
Life slows to a crawl.

Delay :: September 24, 2007

I wait, impatient,
Listening for the footsteps
Of inspiration.

Shattered :: September 23, 2007

The lake’s glassy face
Shudders, then shatters, as the
Triathlon begins.

Stolen Goodness :: September 22, 2007

Imagine my joy:
An unguarded mixing bowl
Full of cookie dough.

Beneath the Surface :: September 21, 2007

Despite the glad day
With its cotton-candy clouds,
The wind sings of loss.

Static :: September 20, 2007

Ravens ride the wind,
A thousand flecks of static
Against the pale sky.

At the Brink :: September 19, 2007

I watch the candle
With its gasping flame as Phil
Lectures about hope.

Antidote :: September 18, 2007

Worry will leave you
If you ignore its shrill voice
And just do what’s next.

Splinters :: September 17, 2007

Conversation breaks
Against your stony dispute,
Spraying me with words.

Water Colors :: September 16, 2007

Nature daubs gray rain
On the canvas of the day.
I view it dryly.

Black Plastic :: September 15, 2007

“Troops to leave Iraq.”
Too late. Some already left,
Wrapped in black plastic ...

Building Materials :: September 14, 2007

Looking in her eyes,
I find the lumber, concrete,
And nails to make home.

Life Doesn't Play Fair :: September 13, 2007

“I will lose some weight!”
The moment I declare this,
Licorice appears …

Shift Happens :: September 12, 2007

How quickly life shifts.
I find 20 bucks, then learn
I owe more taxes.

Conformity :: September 11, 2007

I don a pink shirt
With white, Hawaiian orchids ---
The price to fit in.

An Editor's Chores :: September 10, 2007

Back to daily chores:
Weeding overgrown phrases,
Pruning brambly thoughts.

Tick, Tick, Tick ... :: September 9, 2007

The clock’s thin, black hand
Mercilessly flicks away
Minutes from my day.

Celestial Fireworks :: September 8, 2007

Stars like fireworks ---
The perfect end to Jessie's
Summer-night wedding.

The Joy of Silence :: September 7, 2007

Advice for marriage:
It's better to be happy
Than always be right.

Small Price to Pay :: September 6, 2007

Ten hours by car,
A mind-and-butt-numbing ride ---
Worth it for your hug.

Personal Branding :: September 5, 2007

Personal branding:
When my actions and values
Equal product “Me.”

Childhood Returns :: September 4, 2007

A happy flashback:
As I shaped dough into scones,
They became mud pies.

The Escape :: September 3, 2007

Regret clings to me.
Wriggling free I shake it
Racing on my bike.

Soul Food :: September 2, 2007

Ocher eggs with bleu,
Crisp bacon, and laughing friends ---
Breakfast feeds the soul.

The Ballad of Waste :: September 1, 2007

I took the blank page,
Scrunched it up and tossed it out.
It was called Today.

Divine Ink :: August 31, 2007

Where there was nothing,
Words now flow from my pen.
I gasp and say thanks.

The Tunnel :: August 30, 2007

Lunging for daylight,
I emerged from the tunnel
Of client demands.

What I Ponder :: August 29, 2007

I long to wake up
Feeling like a placid pond,
Not like a puddle.

Honoring #2 :: August 28, 2007

To love my neighbors,
I need to know my neighbors.
It all starts with “Hi.”

The Words We Expresso :: August 27, 2007

At coffee with Josh,
Our topics swirl, reflecting
My latte’s design.

Social Order :: August 26, 2007

The cashier smiles,
While red eyes confide her pain.
Smiling back I leave.

Doghouse :: August 25, 2007

Biking with my wife,
She went straight when I turned right ---
“Doghouse” here I come.

Project Management :: August 24, 2007

Project management.
Some days it is herding cats
Through raging waters.

Misty Goals :: August 23, 2007

Like the chiffon fog,
My goals remain out of reach,
Shifting in my grasp.

Floodification :: August 22, 2007

Today we brainstormed.
Like a flash flood in Tucson,
Ideas arrived.

Prison Break :: August 21, 2007

I long for limits,
Then look through their prison bars
And plot to get out.

In It With You :: August 20, 2007

Josh asks; I ponder.
“Where is God when I’m in pain?”
In a person's hug.

Displaced Season :: August 19, 2007

Fall day in August ---
Perfect time to sip coffee
While I read and write.

Shocked! :: August 18, 2007

“Work” is today’s theme.
From cleaning to bicycling,
My body is shocked!

Beauty Sighs :: August 17, 2007

Walking in nature,
I watch the ground, not the trees.
Beauty shakes its head.

Day's Pulse :: August 16, 2007

After a slow start,
I settled into today
And found my rhythm

Enlightened :: August 15, 2007

Following the light,
Images flash in my mind,
Enlightening me.

Get Inside :: August 14, 2007

“Outside looking in.”
What a waste of potential ---
Stop now; get “inside.”

Consequence of Will :: August 13, 2007

Not going to sleep
Coats my day in deep shadow
And obscures my path.

Leaves of Pain :: August 12, 2007

Knots in my muscles,
Like brittle leaves in autumn,
Have colored my day.

Poof :: August 11, 2007

Biking, therapy,
Finances and a party ---
Another day gone.