“Dirty Hands”

The Puget Sound Poetry Connection (PSPC)  anthology “Aria 2020” is out. I was pleased to have two of my poems selected for inclusion in this wonderful volume of poetry by local poets.

I Had a great time “social distancing”with other local poets during the release reading in Wright Park, Tacoma on Sunday, July 12th 2020.

Here are my entry poems:

This first one is dedicated to my wife Susan on mother’s day……

DIRTY HANDS                               

One by one four cedar planks

eight feet long are stacked side up,

nailed to corners making a box

holding pea gravel and loam.

Twelve bags it took to fill

the raised garden.

We knelt silent side by side

sharing space and touch,

aerating the contents of the

homemade crate. I watch her

gently unclump the soil, smoothing it

evenly as if stroking the soft skin

of a baby in a cradle.

She plants in her new garden

seedlings of tomatoes, lettuce,

snap peas, kale, thyme,

carrots squash, basil, cilantro

spinach, and white bunching onions.

Each one punches up into air

through the soil of the egg crates

that were their womb

now eager to become

more of who they are.

Each day she stoops down

to inspect and care for what

she embraces as her charges.

How she cares for this world,

and tiny things given her.

How she looks farther down the road

than I – not to what is

but to what will one day be,

when you are willing

to stoop low,

get on your knees,

and get your hands dirty.

This one is in memory of friends and loved ones lost to the two diseases of modernity: addiction and despondency.

Alone Against the Winds            

“Too soon” sighs my friend

and we all nod

looking down at our shoes.

Like a leaf letting go

well ahead of the others–

before its time.

He tried hard

to not let go

holding on by threads,

till the strain was too much,

falling seemed

the better idea.

Not strong enough,

no matter our cheers,

to hold on

against the certain

high winds.

None of us can.

None of us can,

which seems a cruel trick

even to us, the lucky few.

READ POETRY!!!