The Shadows of Butterflies

morning drive the cornfields shortened to stubble

wildcard spot a baseball cap for the scarecrow

early fall the black snake with the same curve as the stone

september we share our walk with the millipedes

thistle to thistle the shadows of butterflies departing

t

  emps

a

              ll

                         over

        the                                       place

makeshift memorial this is not how the trip should end

owl whoots around the fullness of the moon

glass paperweight I hold onto your fingerprints

autumn hike the trees dwarfed by el capitan

dad's army uniform 40 years later it still fits

military hospital 10 geese flying in formation

end of the road the chicory blues waving me home

Who's Going To Test The Gorillas

neighborhood watch after midnight we follow the trucks w/o license plates

9/11 to 9/12 our journey will never be the same

hidden security cameras the squirrels are not smiling

biden mandate who's going to test the gorillas

around the world on a placemat the outdated flag of afghanistan

the china challenge as if they were announcing a new game show

catnip advisory I wouldn't walk past that chair

no moon the sycamores like the other trees now

9/11 chrysanthemums a shared day of remembrance and mourning