EXHALATION cover

an eerie, mj watercolor sketch

from decades ago is transforming

thanks to Michaela Thorn’s artistry

into the cover for the 4^th novel

in the Nandria series

it is unbelievable what creativity

and cooperation can accomplish

joy, joy, joy

celebrating her new home

on borrowed chairs

gathered with small gifts

food to share and stock

her pantry

see her nutcrackers

lining the staircase and landing

where we pose for family pictures

giggling at a charlie brown tree, potted

ready to thrive on the back deck

laughing in games and chatter

reaffirming kinship

and loving support

her standing in her driveway

with three of her four kids

relaxed and happier than we’ve seen

for years, waving us good-bye

content at last on their own

and hopeful of bright future

january sunrise

clouds hover

dark as silhouetted hills

tree limbs backlit

as skeletal to lances

poised to pierce

a bloody dawn horizon

rejoin

my friend advises

getting in touch

with a blooming tree

a flower

a critter

a bug

to see again

the beautiful intricacy

of the world

we’ve forgotten

multi-worlds

subtle textures
in the bark of the tree
tunnels bored by tiny
creatures hiding
to be overlooked
by prey attuned to the world
of small and perilous
which we
in our blundering
overlook
considering only our own
perceived or imagined
danger