DAY 23 - THE LAKE NEAR ME

The lake shimmers autumnal blue;
a piper stalks near the shore,
his doppelganger reflecting
his perfect self

OCTOBER 15.16 DOE-EYED AND INTENSE

DOE-EYED AND INTENSE

Graceful and
awkward both,
these tallest
of all the
jungle's
denizens
Have many
contrary
characteristics -
they're so tall,
they practically
have to do
the splits
to get low
enough to drink
But those
long legs also
make it possible
for them to run
as fast as 35 mph
for short sprints,
and lope at 10 mph
for a long way.
Their remarkable
long-lashed big
eyes are not just
beautiful, but allow
them to see the
furthest of any
animal on earth
This one shared
a long gaze with
me at the Philly
Zoo in August.

OCT.10.16 - LUNA LURKS

LUNA LURKS

It's only Fall but the clouds are
pregnant with snow, and the air
smells Arctic-cold
But Luna is harvest-tinged, a pale
gold as she peeks from behind
the laciness of tree branches
No matter the season, she keeps
her secrets to herself.

OCT.9.16 - HARVEST SKIES

Oct.9.2016

HARVEST SKIES

Striations from peach 

to pumpkin

fill the sky

smearing the horizon

with colours to reap

This time of year 

is rich with bounty

and we are blessed

OCT.8.16 - MY OFFICE

Yes, it's every bit as messy as it
appears; and I wouldn't have it
otherwise
My mind seems to need the clutter
to spark any type of creativity
- so I let it be.

OCT. 7.16 - GEESE FORMING

It's late for these stragglers
but I hear them honking
wildly overhead
These last few geese who
don't seem to know how
to fly in formation spend
day after day
Landing and taking off

OCT.6.16 - LIGHT THROUGH THE LEAVES

Underfoot, a carpet
of dry leaves
crackles as we walk
uphill towards
the brilliance
slanting through
the canopy overhead.

October 5.16 CLOUD BURST

At end of day,
from behind the fir
the last blush of sun
fades slightly
around a slate cloud
A cloud fair bursting
with rain, just waiting
to pour over the land

OCTOBER 4.16 THE BEAN

In hopes of getting caught up ...

Oct.4.2016

THE BEAN*

Last year at this time
we were right here
and I took photos
of this piece
of magnificence.
It has another name
But Chicagoans call
it simply, "the bean".

*Cloud Gate

OCTOBER 4.2016 - FOUNTAIN PENS

I write
all the time; I am, I can say
a writer, mostly a poet
And my favourite writing
instrument is a fountain pen
To find a place that honours
these pens in such a way?
Bliss.

Oct. 2.16 I LOVE NYC BUT, CHI-TOWN HAS ITS OWN CHARM

Yeah, I've always been in love
with the Big Apple, I confess
But I'd ever been to Chicago
and had no idea how awestruck
I would become over
that spectacular place
What a skyline - and the rivers!
The art, the places to eat, oh my
We even saw the Cubs at Wrigley
Field in the playoffs ... cool

OCTOBER 1.2016 - GOOSE STEPPING SADLY

They're said to be monogamous
you know - Canada Geese
So to see this lone guy wandering
the paved area surrounding
the reflecting pool outside
City Hall; it's heart-breaking
He looks lost, or maybe he
has lost - his mate.