January micro 2023: 8

no parking space — 

have the angels

forsaken me 

or shall I never know

what mishap they prevent?

*

joining my afternoon rest

she lies beside my head

purring loudly –

the supervisor, the mother,

leaving only after I’m settled

January Micro 2023: 6

all the things

visitors don’t remark —

offerings on the sill

a small ritual every morning

the upturned broom by the door … 

*

finishing the library books

a three-day feast

of (mostly) very good poetry —

and now my mind 

is blank, my pen still

*

He’d love to stop work.

‘Change that conversation,’

I long to say —

as his back pain

gradually gets worse.

January micro 2023:5

When I stroke behind her ears

as she settles to sleep,

I love even more than her purr

the ecstatic curl and flex

of one little paw.

*

Sunday breakfast treat —

café style raisin toast

two fat slices

*

I draw Queen of Swords 

the independent woman 

also the widow –

happy to think of Andrew

and what a good life we made

January micro 2023:4

 

When I have a new Tarot, I pull a card a day as a way to learn — though all Tarot is Tarot — the particular character of this one. Recently I got the Crow deck by MJ Cullinane. I love crows, and I liked the artwork: neither too realistic nor too fancy. Today I pull the 8 of Cups: a longing for something beyond the material wealth I have. (I don’t have lots of money, but I have enough of everything else for my needs, and even some emotionally sustaining non-essentials — and that is wealth to me.)

But to take a more spiritual path — what can that mean? I have followed one all my life. At the age of 83, is this a message that death is beckoning? I don’t think I’m afraid to die, but I don’t feel ready yet. And despite the inevitable ageing and slowing, I don’t think my body is at that point either. But perhaps it’s a gradual journey. (Perhaps I need to begin some preparation.)

even with wings

ascending a mountain

must take time?

*

alone except for my cat

I put on the big blue earrings

(deep blue and white, like pottery)

which Angela gave me one birthday

– dressing up for myself

*

night owl texting –

certain friends know

who else roams the dark

January micro 2023: 3

summer interrupted

rain all night

today all drizzle –

even my garden statue

looks miserable

*

My card for today

is Queen of Cups.

Does it signify me

(water sign woman)

or the damp day outside?

*

The library reminds me

those books are coming due. 

OK – this afternoon

turns into a banquet:

gorging poetry.

*

The small cat dreams 

through the afternoon,

making tiny throat sounds

as if calling, or perhaps 

greeting someone (me?)

After we've gone ...

After we’ve gone  

(I like to think)

Earth will at last
rest ...

and recover.

For Weekly Scribblings #35: Rest at Poets and Storytellers United.

Irises

This may be 

technically winter

but in my neglected

weed-filled garden

suddenly irises bloom.

All night the rain ...

All night the rain 

mutters and grumbles

like an old quarrel, on and on 

without resolution, finally 

subsiding with a dribble.

Nearly Ready

‘I’m nearly ready,’ she says,

‘to wear my Ugg boots outdoors.’

(I think she refers to the extreme cold,

but) her words have me discover:

I’m either eccentric or daring!

Domestic Vignette

Rain falls soft and steady.

I open my door to the cool.

My small black cat

moves further inside the house
to sprawl on the bare coffee table.