harvest time
watermelons tossed
man to man

farmers’ market
the snap of a green bean
over traffic noise

new moon —
one white chick strays
from the broody hen

sultry day
peaches packed at the bottom
of the grocery bag

bright estuary . . .
the red jellyfish float in
with the tide

Labor Day
the plowboy pauses
for a photo

no crop this season —
the deep wrinkles
in his neck

roadside stand
the cold skin
of the last pear

end of vacation
palmetto husk dolls
with slanted smiles

war news . . .
an old peasant talks to
the persimmon tree