February, Rain

1

Dawn, after the hoped-for downpour.
Droplets beaded in the sage.

2

On hills, ruts revert to streambed:
Thistle-blue, the sky in rivulets.

3

On damp
fallen leaves, bright fungal blooms—

4

Live oak cradles winter sun: Satsuma.
Winter clouds—swift coho salmon—

5

Along freeways, pans & garbage.
Fragile line between expensive & discarded.
A screen, rotating advertisement.
A camp: three tents, two bicycles.

6

On this road, backlit coyote:
Quick illuminated trickster god—

7

At home: Absentminded,
under storm. Symphonic
crash, then silence.
Everything is gleaming, gleaming.
We prime ourselves to forest atmospherics.

8

On the mountain now mossy live oaks
twist, softening our hills.
Druid, draoidh—some greenish
Welsh or Celtic god
lodged in a latter Spanish colony.
After rain: white steeple, green behind it.

9

The light might be the Philippines or Goa.
Little mission church on a green hillock.

10

O white sanctuary gleaming:
You trail all your bloody histories—