true love

Thirty years
together,
and they
are still
laughing.

They chop their own wood.
They eat whole foods.
They live
in a small house
and never grow
tired of each other.

For nearly fifteen years,
they have been my models
of love.

unexpected sunlight

I will take
sunlight
wherever
I can find
it
in February.

Even through
smudged
salt and pepper
shakers
at an alehouse
on a Monday
afternoon.

focus in wandering

We had the afternoon.

All morning,
I had been working.
He had been planning
the menu
for next month.
Everything focused
on goal.

We left the house
and entered
the moment.

A wet
windy
cold
moment,
but there
nevertheless.

Discovery Park.
we found the tree
under which
we will be married.

We smiled and linked arms.

And then we
drove
to the Market.

We go,
at least
once a week,
but always with
something specific
to buy.

Yesterday,
we wandered
meandered
wondered
where to go next.

I looked up
and saw him
looking intently
not angry
just focused.

I had to take his picture.

captured

We stood in front
of this ocelot
for almost
ten minutes.

How did he
do this?
Fall asleep
in such
a cramped space?
Allow himself
to trust
this much?

Was this
even a he?

we don't know much.

sunset over the Santa Catalinas

The power of the light
drew us all
outside.

Silence.

What words could we say?

At first,
it was just
the gathering clouds
the looming distance
that golden light.

Several moments later
a rainbow.

That is when
I lifted the camera
to my eyes.

the first flowers of spring

After my walk
around the lake
my eyes
jumped
at the sight
of these.

sunlight in petals.

My heart
surged
in me.

Spring.

I walked three blocks
more
for my camera
and skipped
on the sidewalk
just to
remember
this moment.

the redemption of sunlight

we really do
only live
in one
small corner
of the world.

here:
green trees
rich with rain
grey skies
prickles of cold
against the skin.

there:
blue bumping into clouds
prickles of cactus
attacking my leg
brown ground
vastness.

sometimes,
seeing
something different
is the only redeeming
i need.

the red scarf with green flecks

Late afternoon
light.

I found
this scarf.
I wish
I could say
I made it.
Nope.

I gave
ten dollars
to Value Village.

In the gloaming,
it gleamed.

Out of focus
no purpose
I saved it
anyway.

green amidst the grey

Any green
amidst the grey

is a welcome
relief
these days.

who looks at doorbells

I looked
at this
yesterday
for the first time.

Just because
I had a camera
in my hands.

I have lived
here
for nearly
four years.

Pay attention.

i want it to be spring.

This morning
the sky looked warm
out the window.

I put on
my red dress
the one everyone
loves
but he thinks is on
inside out.

And sandals.
Open-toed shoes.
I was ready for the spring.

Halfway through the day,
I stopped home
to find a pair of pants.
Too cold.

(Besides, I had forgotten
to shave my legs.)

They don't go together
that red dress
those Indian pants
but I like them.

It's nearly spring.

It can't be far away.

unexpected beauty in the morning

This morning,
after I woke
I stumbled into the living room
eager to hear
the coffee maker fizzing.

Instead, I picked up
my camera.

Amal gave me tulips
on Friday.
Sadly, they sat
in the car
until Sunday.
Life interferes with efficiency.

He found them.
And then he extended them
to me,
limp and dragging.
Still, tulips.

We put them in water
not expecting anything.

This morning, they had revived
and opened forth
leaning toward the light.

This made my day.

adoration

I will never able to
fathom
just how I love
this little boy.

At nearly four,
everything is worthy
of his attention,
even the place
where the grass
meets the pavement.

Watching him
explore
and listening to
his giggle
fill me with
hope.

stumbling into a cliche, but living it instead.

Late in the afternoon
after a day of indolence
we wandered
in the car
wherever the light led us.

We parked at Golden Gardens
and opened our jaws
in awe.

Flashes of pink and orange
across the sky
the mountains lavender.

That kite
flying strong against the sky
was a detail
I could not have predicted.

As we walked
in the cold air
taking photographs
and kissing as our feet
missed the solid ground,
in sand,
we laughed.

Somehow,
we had become
the cliche of
a couple in love:
walking on the beach at sunset.