laugh of the morning

outlandish smudge of dawn

like blackened orange

smeared at the distant horizon

more threatening than promising

the imminence of a new day

                        mjNordgren  9/26/2022   N

knowing the pulse

driving by trees thinking of changing to autumn attire

reaching the coast watching waves eternal rhythmic nibbling at the shore

knowing the pulse of life

i seldom slow enough to feel

                        mjNordgren  9/25/2022  N

split decision

 split decision

senryu

 praying for wisdom

urging new group to ponder

leave ours to writing

young’un?

rugged osprey nest near top of utility pole

empty now with summer gone

still, i look up as i drive by

startle as slender black and white

feathered head and neck peek above the rim

                           mjNordgren  9/21/2022  N

creative grandpa bob

grandpa bob created a story about a brave child

finding a way to defeat the monster under the bed

at the fair, he printed that story complete with colorful illustrations

he filled in each particular child’s name and age

then handed the booklet to her or him and watched

round eyes light up as they heard their name as the hero of the tale

children he didn’t know but cared about as only a doting grandpa can

E II service

 lovely young woman

chose to live a role in service

to an empire

died beloved

because of her integrity

to that decision

                        mjNordgren  9/19/2022  N

clue of absence

haiku

how long to notice

absence of sound: crickets still

birds fearful, silent

we take turns

 haiku

 lingering anger

with talk-over-anyone

our non-listener

me central

the sun rises directly east of my desk on my birthday

each year i watch the season-causing wobble as sol creeps

along my wide horizon, south for the winter warmth

and north in summer for respite from brown drought

it is like the moon’s path directly toward me across the water

i may not be the center of the universe

but I can see how some people could convince themselves they were

succeeding

haiku

 morning chill after

searing months’ set up of fire

smoke-enhanced sunsets

generous spirit

her generosity of soul giving again and again

where those who receive think not of returning

or even of carrying their own weight

how do i protect her?

or would i be interfering?

how do i answer?

 blue-purple larkspur and asters surround a vibrant sunflower

and yellow, gold and auburn roses, lilies and daisy wanna-be’s

bouquets in clear glass and handmade cream-white and blue pottery vases

preen beside the drawstring bag of earl gray tea

my heart sings with their proof of ‘i love you, mom’

my tears of undeserved joy

                                    mjNordgren  9/11/2022  N

tall tail

tall tail

 does emerge from the tall grass at the slope of my yard

stately now, and intent on feeding

the cold mornings have heralded the coming of fall and winter

yesterday a spring-born youngster wandered onto my lawn

curious about the california quail and tin bucket until

he realized mama deer was nowhere in sight

like a child, he splayed his feetin sudden sweeps of his head to look

and bounded off into the tall grass after her

mumble mutter

ranting and swearing are not my thing

although i can mumble with the best of them

under my breath

perhaps it is healthier than turning myself inside-out

with sadness over something i cannot control or even change

drat it all!

straw elderly

straw elderly

 oblong hay bales

stacked, columns leaning

into one another

like old married folks

unsteady on their own

but holding each other upright

she’ll make it work

taking on an over-active child new to kindergarten

as are the twenty-two others, and the teacher as well

ten more hands and five more gentle, soothing souls

could help bring peace

perhaps a list of parent volunteers

a couple hours a week through October or November

phases of the mist

mist resting, languid, between the hills

the few pre-dawn lamps twinkling

among shadows as mists lift and stretch

anticipating the rosy warmth of sunrise

will lift them to evaporation

to continue in their rounds

of water cycle on which our unheeding

lives depend

believe what you will

haiku

 still flat-earthers sure

north pole rises mid pancake

south pole outer rim

what food? where?

what food? where?

 yellow grass tinted green

after three nights last week of misted dew

grown inches to create a flexible maze for curious

hungry california quail chicks to scramble through

heads bobbing up, to see; down, to eat

those question mark brow adornments wobbling as the dozen or so

willy-nilly take over my yard and conquer my sense of delight

green signs

tint of green among the yellowed blades of grass

there must have been rain in the night

or dew or blessing congregations of mist

to resurrect parched life after long summer drought

                        mjNordgren  8/21/2022  N