Three before noon

Mt. Diablo

Seen through the blue haze
of a windy delta day
Valleys dropping
Ridges rising
all re imagined
the looming mountain
is now a backdrop
painted only for
today's performance


Following footsteps

The last few drops of coffee settle in my cup.
Sugar and cream balancing bitter.
The first sip cautious but cool.
Pushing a button, the microwave springs open.
Setting the cup in the center of the turntable
I notice a brown ring of
coffee left by another's cup.


Organizing

Sitting at the cluttered dining room table
facing West through the window
I see a note my father started
or finished

two items are on it:

traffic cones
eggs

Thought from the hot tub

Its dark outside, the house
the kitchen windows lit

and I can see two vases
she set them upon the sill

full of brightly colored flowers
set there as reminders

of how bright days can be
when its dark outside.