Author Archives: Puff Of Smoke Poems

my father’s thinking fails him
again and again he forgets
while deep in the night,
Snow.
and as it falls, snow
turns the landscape
to a whisper called beautiful
a comfort
while much is taken
the world recalls
its winter work

forgetfulness hides
in the globe on the table
or map on the wall
Today’s lesson starts early—
you learn the world in real time

less than ten days till
boxes reveal their treasures
bought in early fall
by harried mothers counting
Pennies and hopes, fairness and Joy

less than ten days before Christmas
hopeful tinsel everywhere

thought it was the moon
just above the horizon
through gauzy curtains
lovely in the rain, even
even if
even though
that maybe moon, or street lamp

ten days before Christmas—
in primary schools
small children make ornaments
of popsicle sticks and glitter
industrious as elves and
unaware that they are in business
creating treasure troves of
memories and priceless gifts

lovers of language,
Stop. Or at least slow down some—
our huge feasts, all those
piled polysyllabic words
overwhelm our students’ ears

on another day
rushing, I step on the cat
Can’t that small cat see?
Impatient with the living
is stamped all over my skin

again, the moon wanes
or waxes, who remembers
which? It was twilight—
fingernail moon topped the pines
and I said to you, oh look

dark winter again
when wide awake in the cold
empty and ready
we fill the nights with stories—
this is what winter is for