Poetry

Morning observations and mindful attention

About this collection: These poems span nearly 30 years of morning writing practice, beginning with "What is the Picture?" in 1996. Each piece captures a moment of attention—to nature, to stillness, to the question: can we look at something else, instead?
  • Sudden Fall of Leaves
    November 23, 2024
    there is something about the sudden fall of the leaves on a tree...
  • Rejection
    November 23, 2024
    It happens every day. Sometimes it spirals like a leaf that fell...
  • Rainy Fall Day
    November 22, 2024
    The rain is falling hard this morning...
  • Gray Sky Morning
    November 21, 2024
    Gray sky morning, the sun hidden behind clouds...
  • Early Frost
    November 20, 2024
    Early frost covers the grass. Some of the rooftops are shielded...
  • Dream Meditation
    November 19, 2024
    In the space between sleep and waking...
  • Crack of Dawn
    November 18, 2024
    At the crack of dawn...
  • Storm Power Outage
    November 17, 2024
    The storm knocked out the power...
  • Changing Light
    November 16, 2024
    The changing light of autumn...
  • Windy Day
    November 15, 2024
    Wind rattles the windows this morning...
  • Blue Reflection
    November 15, 2024
    Blue reflection on still water...
  • Ivy Wraps
    November 14, 2024
    Ivy wraps around the tree trunk...
  • Mild After Storm
    November 13, 2024
    Mild morning after the storm passed through...
  • Rushed Morning
    November 12, 2024
    A rushed morning, no time to sit...
  • Cold Windy Bold
    November 11, 2024
    Cold, windy, bold—the morning arrives...
  • Cloudy Overcast
    November 10, 2024
    Cloudy overcast morning...
  • Thick Fog
    November 9, 2024
    Thick fog blankets everything this morning...
  • There is More
    November 8, 2024
    There is more to see than what appears...
  • Rocks and Stones
    November 7, 2024
    Rocks and stones line the garden path...
  • I Write in the Morning
    November 6, 2024
    I write in the morning. The birds are chirping...
  • A Day Lies Before You
    November 5, 2024
    A day lies before you, full of possibilities...
  • Coffee Colored Ocean
    October 24, 2024
    Coffee colored ocean meets the gray sky...
  • Words and Birdsong
    October 23, 2024
    Words and birdsong fill the morning air...
  • The Changes are Constant
    October 22, 2024
    The changes are constant. Nothing stays the same...
  • Forest Sounds
    October 19, 2024
    Forest sounds echo through the trees...
  • Sparkle on the Water
    August 31, 2024
    Sparkle on the water catches the light...
  • Ice in My Coffee
    August 30, 2024
    Ice in my coffee melts slowly...
  • No Paint Brush
    August 26, 2024
    No paint brush, No canvas. The sky, a deep and dark blue...
  • What is the Picture?
    Circa 1996
    What is the picture that lies in your head? Is it of strange creatures that need to be fed?
    ✦ The foundational poem that began this 30-year journey