wind across the field
twisting snow in patterns lost
to the gray night sky - GR

starling flakes gust-buffeted
off the warm brick chimney-rim - FF

falling over eaves
through sharply slanted shadow
onto dark green yews - SR

startled suddenly from cropped
field grass a dozen killdeer - GR

thump-call of bittern
long beak pointed at the sky
out of tall cattails - FF

bullfrogs rumbling in the marsh
a red sun warms the waters - SR

at noon this high orb
owls secreted in black trees
meadow mice dancing - GR

in crimson dusk, bats flutter
out from the day's dark cloisters - FF

as ashes fall from
gold and auburn autumn leaves
smoke-seared wood wisps soar - SR

one sleek solitary skink
in the tree ... no, on the ground - GR

white crystals glitter
at morning on the stiff blades
of grass that was green - FF

winter-worn drifter winces
along an icy boardwalk - SR

tag-end of autumn -
across the pond a loon's cry
becoming thinner - GR

in pale dawn a fading moon
hovers low over the lake - SR

high wedges of geese
aim south as the still water
forms its fur of ice - FF

pounding the tent pegs harder,
a colder sun descending - GR

leaf-littering wind
through the stiff hardwood branches
a lone jay calling - FF

still-smoking red embers blown
beachward, glowing in gray dusk - SR

eye of the villain
all that remains on the old
"Angel Street" poster - GR

under the streetlight, fire-eyed,
a scuffed tomcat shuffles home - FF

petting the pitbull
the porch-woman watches her
wilting baneberries - SR

a hooded cobra rises
from the straw basket; flutesong - GR

the outdoor market
scent of applespeachespears
hornets hovering - FF

leather-skinned women wringing
wash in the river, waiting ... - SR

for stars to flicker,
the moon moves behind clouds: then
shadows disappear - GR

over the black lake, lightning
cloud-lanterns in the night sky - FF

whirring through the wastes
the swirling mists whispering
in ghostly pavane - SR

stepping from the whirling crowd
he puts his hand to her waist - GR

gyre of sunsetgulls
rising over the dark woods
their faint cries fading - FF

uncurling in underbrush
a solitary hedgehog - SR

these storm clouds clustered
where the old rusted gate swings
slightly in breeze-gusts -GR

a tin rooster turns, creaking
above the rotting barn beams - FF

one dry chamber in
a queue of vacant bedrooms
at the ghosttown inn - SR

trying to find the latchkey,
hearing wind in the hallway - GR

behind a closed door
music and sound of waltzing
owl-cries from the woods - FF

moonlight glistens from a thread
the spider slowly descends - SR