falling leaves
we both speak
of living wills

watching the waves . . .
a stray dog settles
beside me

winter stars . . .
I learn to paint
empty spaces

cold morning
the soap bar
razor thin

snow day . . .
finding my first grade class
in a drawer

New Year’s Eve —
sending prayer slips
with the ebb tide

winter dusk
a grandchild draws
my weary smile

walking the dogs
over the snowy fields —
Orion

first snow —
against my will
the beauty

leaf-fall
for a moment
the cat all kitten