Poetry

Grandma’s Afternoon 

I imagine
community charming
my grandmother
on hot summer days.

In an area,
a spotlight, 
some skepticism.

This afternoon
a special reason,
I wanted
friends
proud of me. 

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Hydrangea Blooms

Carry white hydrangea blossoms
before landing.
I laugh and flex my muscles,
hilly terrain intimidated her,
navigate sharp slopes
as landing pads and steps. 

Certain hydrangeas
survive a late mountain spring
pink to white to purple
walking through the garden
the stars 
bloom in late summer. 

A beautiful backdrop
a dozen nasturtium blooms
have found love later in life.
Fills the hillside 
those graceful steps
she descends into flowers. 

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An Ode to Oregon  

Steamboat of thunder eggs burst forth opulently from the Ochoco.
Halfway here mountains triumphantly tower shading spectacular sunstone splendor.
Echo the robbins’ jubilant melody as voles and shrews rest in Douglas’s shade.

Fields of swallowtails splitting the morning with amber and charcoal striations.
Lake Creek and reservoirs, rivers, streams, tributaries, and riparian zones.
Illahe ventured by little brown myotis adventurously seeking satiation in the stars. 
Elk meander and roam relaxingly powerful, the northern flicker beginning its beat.
Siltcoos succulently shape chanterelles into gilded formosus.

Buena Vista gifting horizons of hazelnuts pocketed under peaceful cumulous. 
Yachats to Yoncalla never yielding temptation to go yonder and wander.

Hood River blossoms bursting bountifully to bear the perfect pear.
Eagle Cap tips and osprey fish tricks tickling the muscle of giggle and delight.
Rainbow after the slow afternoon damp, dreary, drizzle, to remind us there is hope.

Owls grey and spotted with friends the dear dungeness and honorable hairy triton.
Willamette with her big sister Columbia wind with wiggle and tenacious traipse. 
Neahkahnie keeps the treasured secret safe for our unencumbered imaginations. 

Wallowa washing over with wondrous magnitude dancing in fantasy. 
Imnaha ignites our inner inquisitive inspiration with soft wild ripples. 
Ninebark arching and cascading in the surrounding mist providing secluded shelter.
Glide into the end of summer how waves of grains and seeds fly in the breeze.
Salmon and sandhill cranes, celebration is in store for all of the land, sea, and sky!

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