Rings

the bay was a bowl
of crystal waves
and golden sun,

we left footprints
in auburn sand
side by side,

we were the ocean,
the mountain, tree,
the sky,

far from home; far
from home, the
torea pango cried,

silent the stars rose
against the night,
the dark blue cape
of the world,

the southern moon
danced on the shore,
outlines your hair,

you reached
for my hand as
the day fell,

I held onto your heart,
you held mine.

Rebellious Sheep

un-sheared
hidden among the hills
batches of green earth
below the current rises
untouchable electric fences
whirl
all your flock is naked
there on the other side
each car to wind
the road's bend
an informant
a traitor
a Sheppard;

they won't take you alive.

Blue Pool

float in
the god's eye
clear pool
green lashes
old old
mountains

is it blue?

see the sky
wink back

up there
or down
here?

Re-Forested

checkered plots of
tree
deforested originals
reclaimed
by immigrant seed
towering
red woods
far far from home
tropical forests
grown
to the hum of saw
wait
to be cut
and sold whole blocks
gently removed
remodeled
patiently stewing
on one hundred years
the next
technological extravagance
cleared out
plowed
hills
re-planted
turned to gold

Splendor

in come the cruise ships
their many windowed hulls
lulling on jade seas
washing their decks on a
thousand water falling cliffs;

at milford sound;

if man has one great strength
it is to make the grand
small and commonplace
and the trivial
majestic and adored.