Resting Place

Fairhaven Washington On Valentine's Day 2015

Chuckanut Drive
lured us North
around curves -
hugging rocks
on one side and
a high bluff beach
on the other.

Historic Fairhaven's
esplanade held  --
easily bearing
the weight of love
in the bright glare

of rare

winter sunshine.

A single girl on a double
bench watched two gray
heads bend together
laughing over the top
of their canes
while the couple
behind looked over her
shoulders oblivious
to the empty seat
next to her.

Pairs smiled
trios leaned
families laughed
singles jumped
couples lunched
pedalers flew
lovers held hands
and masters petted the
heads of the faithful
at the end of the leash.

Selkies in full view
shed their winter
skins and found
the bracing joy
of salty cold
waterplay again.

And someone chalked a heart
on the steel plate bolted
where the timbers joined.

All this captivated me --

but not as much as 

being with this man -- 

my best beloved, 

my friend. 

Happy Valentine's Day, my love. You are so beautiful… to me. Hear my voice crack on the high note? 

How To Grow A Heart

She picked up a rock
from the beach but
threw it back into
the surf because
it wasn't finished
yet.

I pocketed an
incomplete one
beginning to be
a heart and found
its twin close by --
completed.

I'm saving it for later
when she might need
a visual reminder.

Darling, see this?  This
is what surrender
and patience
produces.

Add One Button

I sewed four pillows
to spice up my new
couch with color
echoes.

When I added a large
button in the middle
they snapped from
homemade frumps
to designer accent
custom decor.

What To Keep

in the medicine
cabinet?

I want to hide
the remedies --
disguising the
the realities like
grandma did -
dressing up the
toilet tissue roll
in a crocheted jacket
and matching
flower hat.

But I let curious
snoopers in on the fact --
I have problems like
dry eyes and bulging tissues
throbbing inconveniently
in unmentionable
places along with every
other kind of pain

like their own. Maybe
we can swap war stories
and compare cures
for the best brand
of balm to heal it.

Making Driftwood

Claw off my bark 

tumble me on rocks

drag me under 

soften my edges 

polish my grain

float me

shrink my bulk

sand my rough ends

shave off my broken limbs

smooth my knots 

skin me 

find me 

washed up

on a lonely beach 

where owls and stars 

watch as you

put me in your pocket

like a treasure 

Wooden Boats

Small hands
clasped around
wooden boats
put the final
touch of gladness
on my day. Kids still
do? Make wooden
boats that float?
And play?








Seattle Boat Show January 2015. If you haven't checked out the intriguing and hospitable website of Whitehall Row,  do so. They had a great booth. People seemed curious about the Tango 14' and Tango 17'. I'm beyond curious at this point. I need one. When you see one of their boats in real life, they are even more beautiful than the pictures. I wish I had a pearl of great price, I'd sell it and buy one….yesterday. 

Growing Wings

The nubs are ready
to break through.
They itch and itch
and itch.

I understand how
a yearling's antlers
need a rough
rub on bark to
shred the velvet
casing.

Do you remember
as a child finding
a discarded feather?

If it had separated
into shaggy disorder
we'd lick our fingers
and stroke it with
the grain until the
minute barbs grabbed
each other smooth,
no splits.

I wonder if my
new wings will
need to unfold,
dry out, soar
with strength and
stamina? Will they
need groomed? If
a feather falls, I will
sharpen the shaft
and fill the
quill with ink.

Langus Park River Walk

I Love Where I Live I & II

People come from all over
the world to see the green
lushness in our Pacific
Northwest Paradise

I start to despise the rain
maker's gift come February

Today I met a hearty
and wholesome woman who
told me she likes walking
in the rain

Her eyes lit up and her face
shimmered as she spoke

I didn't know what to say until
my winter excuses for sedentary
inactivity launched the usual
complaint about wet
feet and cold dampness
soaking into my bones

Puzzled, she asked if I had
waterproof hiking boots and a
good quality waterproof but
not rubber type raincoat

I looked puzzled back at her
and shook my head negative
because I had never imagined
wanting to walk in the rain

This woman gave me
a new perspective and changed
my mind

I went straightway to REI
and spent time buying waterproof
mid boots and a comfortable
raincoat

Today I decided to enjoy
walking in the rain

I stayed warm and decided
again - I love where I live






I love where I live
because trains round the bend
on the beach where girls with
pink buckets find treasure

couples walk hand in hand
past families toasting hotdogs
over bonfires

ferries and tugs churn through
water carrying passengers
and cargo bound for islands
shrouded in mist

seagulls scream
and the lighthouse
shines a token light

cups of clam chowder warm our
hands as the sun sets low

the paddle boarder
finds his way home
across the straight

divers waddle
into dark water
and light up the deep
looking for geoduck

I kidnapped Craig early from work last Wednesday and carted him off around the bend and down the hill to the Mukilteo Silvercloud - room 335. Easy. Close. Effortless. Waterfront bliss. A room with a view, a double tub, a fireplace and love…. 

Twenty six years of a workable, doable, enjoyable marriage. We celebrated with Clam Chowder on the beach. We thought of going over to the pub and getting a beer, but got distracted and side tracked with 

loving each other. And dreaming of what the future may hold….