Author Archives: Puff Of Smoke Poems

sun dazzles my eyes
small cloud, time it takes to read
one page of haiku

We woke to piano music
late last night –Not, after all,
a tone deaf ghost
late for Halloween
but the old cat
pacing the keys
picking his path
to the perfect perch
finally finding an octave
where he could rest
playing his catnap
on the cool black
accidental keys

the way the wind decides

which leaves to stir

the way the tree decides

how tightly to hold on

the way the leaf decides

now time to let go

is an instruction the field
paid attention to
starting each morning’s project
with the simplest materials—
damp grass, clouds,
scattered leaves from sleepy trees
conspire to cover this particular canvas
in stripes of shadow and gold

I want to keep writing
the way my old cat
trails me to the kitchen
and sits by his bowl
as I pour a second cup of coffee

Breakfast an hour ago so
he is not starving
nor frantic with need
But he is willing
ready to keep himself
ready
half awake and
ready
in case another
bowl of food or
small poem
happens along,
one of those hectic
impromptu visits
someone may
or may not
notice may or may not
take enough time
to write down

the first few minutes echo
till my house remembers
all the hours before
when you were not here

then it shrugs its shoulders
rafters creaking with the effort
and settles into itself
tapping its foot impatient
but kindly as it waits
for me to catch up

hurrying to the car,
so early that stars are still
visible my pink skirt
brushes against the garden
sets late-blooming cosmos to sway

morning glass
catches sunrise
in its beveled prism
Sleepily,
I drink the light

Thick glasses
wild long curls
green glitter shirt
hot pink ruffled tutu
and rain boots—
she’s five years old
playing football

To all the chapters
of things you Should
have done
let us add
the Appendices
and Footnotes
forgotten details
lists of smaller
failures
all the minor
betrayals
things you could
have easily put right
Once upon a time
but didn’t
due to blindness
inexperience or
your ongoing and
frustrating inability
to see the future