July in the South
A southern summer:
fried chicken sizzles
the front porch swing creaks
condensation rolls down
the glass of iced tea
blue sky puzzle pieces
show amidst the clouds
and a green tinged furry puppy
runs joyfully through
the fresh cut grass
____________________
Moonglow Ribbon
the haloed glow
of the moon
this night of mist and damp
delivers lunar beams
which course over
and around me
as I twist and flap
a banner
in the indecisive
wind
____________________
The Blue Jay
A jay chases an ebony crow
Pecking, scolding
I grapple with dark clouds
Snarling, snapping
Desolate is the call
afloat on the wind
Emerald leaves turn inside out
Preparation for the coming storm
My skeleton ossifies to stone
against my personal onslought
My sculpted being watches
The clouds part
Golden rays of sunshine
flare amongst the gray
Subsequently wisps of hope
drift skyward from my soul
even as smoke from a bonfire
soars alongside the fawn jaybird
____________________
melody
the sea gleams
and sparkles
she croons to me
a lullaby
a ballad
hypnotizing
age upon age
this aria
the depths
and breadths
assimilate
in my soul
ever
I sing
back to her
____________________
Potential
The sun’s dazzling rays
ricochet off of the
tawny water
blinding me with
their brilliance
There are spots
dancing in my eyesight
Compelled to peer
beyond the black holes
I relish the loveliness
encircling
the ebony puddles
A strumming pulse
throbs in my bloodstream
Cause and effect
I melt into myself
____________________
Sentimentality
Seashore bonfire
Cinders float
to meet the stars
Curl of a wave
imitates a lock of hair
A crab scuttles by
Evening trade winds
tickle the neck
Heat lightning flashes
Distant pier lights
quiver on the water
forming white squiggles
Fingernail moon
Velveteen sky
Nostalgia prickles the eyelids
-all published in a microchap May 3, 2023, Origami Poems Project