Springtime, when trees are kaleidoscopes of hope,
An oil canvas with endless shades of green
Each day the picture changes but the frame stays the same
A hopeful bud turns many leaves into one big tree,
Unplug, discover the forest.
Springtime, when the earth is soft and smells like rain.
Twenty drops of color blooming on the forest floor
Spring beauties, hepatica, bloodroots,
Wildflowers are tiny magicians of ephemeral joy
Unplug, explore the driftless lore.
Springtime, when the mighty Mississippi is most alive
Teeming with fish and full of bird song,
There's no place I'd rather go
Than down to a river I know.

A blue camping mug;
Montana memories 
Give words a hug.
Drinking wine through tin 
Is the happiest I've ever been.
Dreams can't be borrowed;
There is no promise of tomorrow.
Leave your comfort zone
And take pride in being alone.
Do not become lost in the words failures say.
Let the dust of others settle where it may.
Count the stars at night
until worries are out of sight.
Open your eyes,
Awake your passions.
Capture a sunrise, a sunset.
Along the way, always remember
To forgive love, but don't ever forget
A heart will never heal without 
Giving the skin time to peel.​

​The cold claws of night
Are creeping in quickly.
It was -10 yesterday and
Will be twice as cold this evening.
I pull you closer.
We sway back and forth,
Tides under the moon.
We watch the goldfinches gobble
Sunflowers.
​I question checking my phone
Or turning on the impeachment news.
Feeding you a bottle of warm milk
Is all that is in my control.
As comfort fills your belly,
You go from having your dukes up
To playing the piano.
I’d like to slip away with you
Into that deep ocean of sleep,
Where your eyes are like blue marbles
Surrounded by pearls.
At dusk, redbird flies away,
The last light of day pinned to his feather.
My mind wants to stay here forever.
You by my side.
How could I be gifted anything more?
Mom walks through the nursery door.