8 June, 2018

born a week early the coyotes howl

For Winnifred

Lafayette, Colorado

14 August, 2013

a new nephew the half-moon waxes

For Archer

Lafayette, Colorado

14 March, 2012

There’s a slight breeze on this sunny spring day.

I was here a year ago, this week.

The city had conducted a controlled burn of the cattails. It was a black, charred mess, and there was a lingering smoky smell.

They haven’t done a burn this year.

Today, many of the golden stalks are matted down from being dried and broken, weighed down with snow for the past few months.

I hear a lot of birds in the trees; I don’t see much activity.

The water level is low. I see several mated pairs of mallards on the water.

            the shining green of the mallard’s head in the sunshine

            just days before spring

            one fall leaf still on the tree —

            a couple of crows

Greenlee Wildlife Preserve, Lafayette, Colorado