A blue jay brings a vivid flash of color to
the reedy branches of a naked bush
beside the pond. Songs of a
robin sweeten the air and
a mallard couple, he with
his emerald green head
and yellow beak, swim
from the shore barely
missing four geese who
peacefully approach. The
heads of the mallard couple
begin to pulse up and down to
their own tempo. Hissing brakes
of a school bus assault the peace
and Luna swishes her way amidst the
pine needles and I wonder what she senses.
On this morning’s walk with
Luna, I see the running
cedar scampering through
the woods and stop and
pull up one strand and
then another until my
hands are full, reminding
me of the search for it
and mistletoe so many
years ago. I put it in a tub
of water to soak when
I get home and add some
holly and boxwood, and
thoughts of how to use
them float through my mind.
Now as I lie here I wonder
if I will use them with the
creche or on the mantelpiece
or maybe on the railing.
Will there be enough?
Will I have the energy?
I really don’t know, but you
know what? It’s okay
if I don’t; I just enjoyed
finding and gathering it.
Three dogs met in Deep Run Park. They
wagged their tails, sniffed,
and kissed. One was
brown and white, one
black, and one brown. One was big and
one medium,
one was small. No
exclusion here.
What if, like those dogs, humans saw
other humans,
not color, race,
only humans?
On his last day he sat between
his parents in
the front seat with
the wind ruffling
his fur, and reviewed his old haunts,
ate fried chicken,
and enjoyed full
attention, love.
When the vet came to put him down,
he showed no fear,
as if he knew
the end was near.
untangling the web 