6/4

My cousin comes to visit and to help me
We don bug sprays and bug shields to 
Wield shrub clippers.

As we decide and chop, wheel away debris while 
Lunch then dinner is considered, his presence is 
companionable and welcome.

5/24

Beautiful days of escape in big old Jersey Shore cottage, 
Wide porches under striped awnings the ocean crashing near
The weather perfect

Surrounded by a bevy of friends, chatting, eating, of course
Painting. This year I slip easily, gratefully into the warmth
Of good companions.

5/12

This evening I shall give myself some time 
To stay in touch, to write a few sweet words
To good friends

Who all live far away. Thus reminding myself for 
This time, while choosing life in beautiful isolation I
So need them.

5/10

The wheat is turning from spectacular
blued green as it ripens to a wonderful
hazed yellowy sage. 


The dogs and I have walked the perimeter
Under a sky marbled by clouds and now rest
Beneath that pine.

Oh this night to have your presence, even if only 
Ghosting in my mind...better company than any others,
Even only memory.

5/9

Heard today an old friend of ours

Is in for rough times. Cancer found,

Hopefully in time

4/26

In evening, the hour of rockwell's light, slanting

Golden across the tree tops, I stand looking

Past these colors

Deepening into perfect. In evening,

Feeling the hint of chill that will echo ever

The soul's sadness.

In evening, no longer overwhelming, only

A constant tingeing rooted sorrow, haunting 

as crying geese. 

4/21

A year ago I was painting on this day, Snow Hill, crying as
My uncle had died and you were not here but a friend was,
Painting with me.

And this year she with another came again and we painted here,
The farm and  your tools hanging until the wallops rocket launched.
You would've enjoyed.

4/8

A long time ago I lived between the marsh and the sea.
Lived with the salt smell, the sound of foghorns and waves 
backwashing on pebbles.

4/6

I have sat here many an evening tracking the sun

Along the horizon, along the seasons, the years,

Remembering the love...

Remembering we did love together and as that tug

Pushes on the river, I watch, thinking of how I tell you

My heart thoughts, 

In the keeping of words shared quietly with you, 

I have found strength. You would love me still as

I do you

4/1

Amidst cackling guineas and industrious hens, 

I paint with friends along these winding inlets,

I am reminded

That these waterways with their ospreys, eagles,

Herons, geese, ducks, their mirrored surfaces, murky

Greens and sunny glints

Are things I love here, and waking to the soft light

Through treetop windows while the song birds

Begin warming up.

3/31

This day a friend celebrates her birthday and 
I sit within a family circle surrounded with good
Food and kugel.

This I sit in an aerie of a house, an osprey' view
Water all around. It is beautiful and tomorrow 
I will paint

But this afternoon I sit with friends and their family,
See kindness, and joy, and sorrow, see the dearness 
In all these.

3/19

Been awhile. It is not as of you aren't in my mind,

Always you are. But that the aloneness of me

Needs center stage.

It is not so quick a process this going from

We to me. Requires mental juggling, not always been

Willing to embrace,

Been willing to not only except the changes

But eventually to embrace. For now? Willing, just

To be willing. 

3/6

Again I sit a plane without you, as last night, 

I sat with our friends, watching them dance.

Another kindly asked, 

The first, I realized, I'd dance since....

And I was fine until he asked what you did

He'd no idea.

Nor I, that so far out it still hit hard. But,

He was kind, so I could quietly, carefully,

Still my soul.

3/5

Would that you were here this night

With old friends in their new place but

You are not

Not here to laugh with me at this absurd 

Delightful show. Not here to enjoy the music

Dance with me

2/15

I need direction, I need light, I need warmth, I need you. 
From you I found all this. Yet, is time to look hard for direction 
for light, for warmth, 

To allow memories of you guide. For now, it is just me and yet, 
I am no longer so frightened of that. For you, heart and soul, more,
left me well