Sea Foam

The bubbling sound 
of the sea 
lingers in the 
below-freezing air 
as it hits the rocks 
covered in a light 
dusting of morning snow. 
It reminds me of soda. 
Winter. The changing of 
weather patterns 
makes my body repel 
from outside activity 
but I seek out the sea 
regardless for its beauty 
and mystery compels me to it,
gratitude bubbles to
the surface of my being,
like soda, the sea foam of
believing in what is
is what will be.

In-Between

The week in-between
holidays is quiet. 
Everyone unsure of what 
they should be doing,
little work to get done. 
The northern hemisphere 
has frozen over, it’s pretty
to look at but cold
to go into. The days of 
the year
come to a close, I am
grateful for all
that has happened,
thankful there’s more
to come.

POV

For Patti Smith

Your work opened doors
in my mind I hadn’t seen before.
The gratitude your words
gave me to make sense of
what being an artist is
will forever be ingrained
in my thought process.
For it gave me a place
to put my feelings 
instead of holding the weight,
I write, and let it go.

Outer Edge

Here is where I find myself —
in the patience of a moment
detached from beginnings or ends
simply being on the outer edge
of the morning.
I fold my legs under my desk
the way I’ve done since I was
in kindergarten, crisscross
applesauce chants in my head.
Slowly, I write as I focus
on breath holds to combat any
anxiety ruminating on the outset.
I lose my mind in my thoughts
only to paddle back a while later
through writing a poem about a dream
maybe one day I’ll share.
This is the anchor to my day,
I breathe in steady watching
snow fall on a Sunday, it doesn’t
feel like a Sunday as if Sunday
had a particular feeling to
attribute to it.

First Snow

The beginning of a new era
snow has quietly graced us
with its ever loving presence.
I admire the flakes falling
while taking the time
the following day to
dig out my car from
the blanket it left behind.
At sunset, I see through
the leaveless trees
as we drive I admire
the change that brought us
back to the end of
the year in preparation
for the next.

In Motion

The cycles of life -
trees lose their leaves
the sun sets mid-afternoon
laundry needs to be cleaned
a poem is written within minutes
enjoy the moment even when
it's a mundane task
appreciate the beauty in
the bare trees
catch the sunset
if you're facing east
at 4 PM

Lovely Days

To a sea coast town 
in mid-November 
quiet streets 
summer tourists
a distant memory 
Christmas lights 
strung on trees
cold wind welcomes
early winter weather 
we wander through 
bookstores and gift shops
have tea at a coffee shop
small pumpkins on window sills
looking out at a low-tide harbor 
boats above puddles of wet sand
heart in my matcha
I appreciate these lovely days

Pay Attention

I spiral out I spiral back
the thought patterns
slowly fade the more
I pay attention
naming what is
lets go of the gravity of
my fickle imagination 
I look up I look out
appreciating the colors above
until they blanket
the ground

Perspective

In the moment, overwhelming feelings
can carry a heavy weight on your psyche.
But then another day comes, a new week
begins, slowly but surely, the intensity
fades into the numbness of your mind. 
The storms of life will pass,
for every feeling that feels like
it will live heavy on your mind
for all of time is actually momentary.
The rain will fall, vanish into
the minutes in time and likely,
be lost in the memories you can
no longer recall.