Tiny buds of green
tightly gnurled pods of lilac
shiver in the snow.

~~~~~~~

Apr 5--prompt: Lilacs
 

Cornflower blue to arctic gray
the storm blows in.
Clouds pile up on the horizon
snagging on the mountain peaks.
Winds howl
sheets of snow
choking out watery sunlight.
Temperatures plummet.
Change coming on so fast
the first wave melts then freezes
trees
streets
budding flowers
taken by surprise
all coated in ice.
Overnight the snow accumulates
first in inches
then feet.
As quickly as it arrived
it blows out.
The sun returns
the melt begins
aside from broken branches
and muddy spots
no evidence remains.

~~~~~~~~~~

April 4--prompt:surprise blizzard
 

Deep in the Underground it roots
drawing on the souls of the departed
memories, lives, experiences
moving upwards.

Branches spread Above
leaves breathing in
the essence of the gods
shining ones, the heavenly.

Here in the Midrealm
stands the trunk
solid, firm, processing
holding the other realms apart.

~~~~~~~~~~

April 3--prompt:write about a particular type of tree



 

White cowled figures ghost along the path
Sandals make soft sussurations in the grass
In the distance chanting begins
Welcoming the dawn into the grove
Wild violets keep silent vigil.

~~~~~~~~~~

April 2~~prompt:wild violets

 

White sands, black sands
waves crash in rhythm.
Slack-string guitars,
pounding drums,
hula dancers with them.
Sunsets, palm-trees
lovers hand in hand.
Kauai calls to me
green-jeweled island.

~~~~~~

April 1st--promt: Foolish love + a palm leaf or a palm tree
 

Live and let live is my personal philosophy.
I try to abide by it everyday.
But some acts cross even my lines.
Thirty-six years? That's messed up.

~~small stone 25

 

Prisms refract through frozen drops of dew on the garden fence.
Small mounds of snow, deflated orange pumpkins from last autumn's bounty peeking through.
Wind chimes tangled in the bare branches of the silver aspen.

~~small stone 23
 

The joy of the production, the beauty of the costuming, the trill of the harpsichord,
The play of the lights on the canvas, the depth of a baroque aria.
Ah...opera.

~~small stone 21
 

Scarlet scarf streaming, tears freezing inside my glasses, hair whipping against my cheeks,
numb from the waist down, slipping and sliding on the icy sidewalk, snow stinging against my face. Ah, just another below zero windchill factor day in Montana.

~~small stone 17
 

Dear Library Patron,
Please do not sit down at the public computer next to mine and:
drown me in the disgusting scent you seem to have marinated in,
begin quietly farting,
leave your cell phone on that obnoxious tone and then have a 30 minute texting conversation,
begin having a loud foreign conversation on that same cell phone.
Sincerely,
The frowning older lady next to you who keeps giving you the evil eye

~~small stone 16
 

Two grown women with little interest in football
Ordering pizza and watching a playoff game
Alone.

~~small stone 14
 

The happiness of knowing I've got the whole weekend to play with Mom
Coupled with the sadness of missing my husband.

~~small stone 13
 

Looking for that still quiet place. Settling into that hurried frantic pace.
Homework due, schedule juggled. Dinner ready? Workout, too?
Sigh. When is finals week, again?

~~small stone 12



 

Sorting and stowing. Prepping and packing. Checking and re-checking.
Times and places, books and notebooks, pens and pencils.
Formal learning re-commences tomorrow.

~~small stone 10
 

Lift and tilt, just so; deep breath in and quick jerk.
Snap, crackle, pop
Relief. Blessed, blessed relief.

~~small stone 9
 

Creamy scrambled eggs with hotsauce and feta cheese, crispy bacon, lightly brown whole wheat toast, fresh hot black coffee and a side order of, "Thank you, Honey, I love when you make me Sunday breakfast," with a gratuitous ass grab.

~~small stone 8


 

They didn't say, there will be blood and urine and an inability to walk on her own.
They didn't say, there will be crying and pain you can't take away or explain.
They didn't say, she will struggle and she's too big for you to help alone.
They just said it would help.

~~small stone 5
 

Bryan Adams playing softly in the background.
Tell me have you ever really loooovveeed a woman?
"Is the water too hot?"
"No, I like it that warm."
Fingers playing gently in my hair, a little nail on the scalp...just right.
Tiny slice of ecstasy to be found in the mall with Crissy.

~~small stone 4
 

The whir of the blades, the fresh ground nutty scent, cold filtered water, let the brewing commence. The heady aroma of the first few drops in the pot, the interminable wait until.....the gurgles that signal it is time to worship at the altar of blessed, blessed morning nirvana.

~~small stone 3
 

Leaning slightly, like a hooker after a long night walking the street in too high heels
Decorations randomly falling off branches too tired to hold them anymore
The holidays are over; time to mulch.

~~small stone 2