In these challenging

times, may we not lose sight of

all that is good in this world.

~

Seeing challenges

around every single bend

hides the forest behind trees.

Even cloudless skies

seem a watery gray now

in, this, the soul of winter.

~

There are some who say

winter has no soul, but they

are summer lovers.

An hour ago

trees and grass glistened with rain,

but now they’re coated with snow.

~

Barring arctic chill,

another hour’s passing

may yield a sty’s worth of mud.

This white line fever

of freshly laid road salt brine:

harbingers of, yet more, snow.

~

In December’s warm

weather, we wondered what could

the new year bring. Now we know.

It’s hard to keep our

equilibrium when our

world turns upside down.

~

Topsy-Turvey days

strung together endlessly

yield their own kind of balance.

In the middle of

inner and outer storms, it’s

easy to get distracted.

~

Whirlwinds and thunder

have a way of commanding

undivided attention.

This icy weather

slows us down, gives us a chance

to rest and reflect.

~

Unless life’s demands

drag us out into the storm

on some essential mission.

From Virginia, south

Peepers and Cicadas drone

Counterpoint on muggy nights

~

But right now on these

cold winter nights we hear limbs

fall, branches crack, and folks sigh.

Cold, gray, and windy –

an unappealing trio

belted forth today.

~

It’s Udon weather.

That, or maybe good Ramen,

will provide appealing warmth.

“Too good to be true“

may be just the axiom

to crush opportunity.

~

We can fail to seize

the moment because we have

seized this axiom instead.

On this cold winter

day, I choose to focus on

the warmth and light of the sun.

~

Like an LED

the brightest of winter suns

offer only scantest heat.

They saw we argue

more with those we love the most…

I guess I’m the odd man out.

~

Or just an odd man,

one who doesn’t insist he’s

always in the right.

When there are no words,

how do you write a poem

is my question of the day.

~

Sometimes wordlessness

exclaims with an eloquence

beyond the ken of poets.

Somewhere in this mix

of falling sleet, snow, and rain

hides a pleasant Sunday drive.

~

Hidden in plain sight

was the care an uncle showed

to drive in such mixed weather.

So-called patriots

prefer a violent nation

and government overthrow.

~

Paternalism,

ultimately, yields tyrants

intent on subjugation.

Hits and near misses

differ by minor degrees,

making all the difference.

~

Home run or strike out

what a difference that can be

in whatever game you play.

Here we go again.

After a day of reprieve,

looks like there will be more snow.

~

More snow is welcome

during this winter season,

it is January, now.

Home, Hearths, and Hearts warmed,

all in the fullness of time,

by power’s restoration.

~

Even before our

power was restored, we were

warmed by others’ thoughtful care.

This contest between

snow and us was won by snow.

We’ll see about tomorrow.

~

Winning and losing

are esoteric questions

when discussing the weather.

State Farm’s got nothing

even close to my neighbors

when the going gets real tough!

~

Time and time again

neighbors have come to my aid

and always with a smile.

It’s balmy today,

but tomorrow it’s supposed

to snow. What’s up here?

~

Sundown: Sixty four

with reports of snow by dawn.

Climate Change? Ridiculous!

It’s been quiet now

awhile as we gather

our breath for the next outrage.

~

With Marjorie Green

demanding to be seen, we

know we will not wait too long.

2021

was such a grind, I am glad

to leave it behind.

~

This second decade

and all its endless madness

belongs in history’s dustbin.

Many feet of snow

may not be nearly enough

to relieve the western drought.

~

But based on a drought

of knowledge, some snow us with

denials of climate change.

This gray day does fit

December, but what’s with this

more than sixty degrees stuff?

~

Gray December skies

mingle with October balm;

even climates can’t deny.

Doing the right thing,

often contra-logically,

leads to greater suffering.

~

If only it were

otherwise and doing right

always made our burdens light.

Normality, where

are you hiding? If you come

back, we promise we’ll be good.

~

Nobody really

cares about normality;

they’re questing for excellence!

Watching water rise,

this artist must remember

there’s beauty in destruction.

~

Artists see beauty

in unexpected places,

give purpose to life’s messes.

The wind in the trees

disturbs the leaves, but the birds

remain unperturbed.

~

Birds are unperturbed

because they harness the wind

while leaves suffer the whirlwind.

Friend, I wear this mask

because I value your health

more than petty polemics.

~

My son, you’ve taken

to heart the Christmas message

of good will toward men.