such little things move mountains

raindrops slide mountain-sides into scree

tender shoots push upward through soil as plant starts

root fingers lift concrete walkways

a snide word leads to blood feud

a thoughtless snub to sadness

bitter labels and recriminations to a child’s loss of self-worth

an unexpected compliment produces a smile at being recognized

a word of praise can change a day toward kindness

k island summers

island off sandusky in lake erie

housed our family summers

during the few years that i remember of world war two

uncles on leave visiting in uniform

campfires on the rocky shore - s’mores, singing and stories

invitations to all who wandered by as sparks burst up into the darkness

and stars laughed above us

                               mjNordgren  10/4/2022 

volume setting

claxon of threat

whisper of hope

wet tinged

rain

not as in florida’s torrents, but gentle, welcome

the first time in months my lawn has been tinged

with green rather than straw brown

empty nest echoes

atop of utility pole is the empty osprey

nest of rugged, twisted branches

my offspring, too, have flown on to their own lives

but i have kept my home so filled

with the echoes of their laughter, questions and insights

a place of growth and deepening understanding

love and acceptance

                                    mjNordgren  9/28/2022  N

laugh of the morning

outlandish smudge of dawn

like blackened orange

smeared at the distant horizon

more threatening than promising

the imminence of a new day

                        mjNordgren  9/26/2022   N

knowing the pulse

driving by trees thinking of changing to autumn attire

reaching the coast watching waves eternal rhythmic nibbling at the shore

knowing the pulse of life

i seldom slow enough to feel

                        mjNordgren  9/25/2022  N

split decision

 split decision

senryu

 praying for wisdom

urging new group to ponder

leave ours to writing

young’un?

rugged osprey nest near top of utility pole

empty now with summer gone

still, i look up as i drive by

startle as slender black and white

feathered head and neck peek above the rim

                           mjNordgren  9/21/2022  N

creative grandpa bob

grandpa bob created a story about a brave child

finding a way to defeat the monster under the bed

at the fair, he printed that story complete with colorful illustrations

he filled in each particular child’s name and age

then handed the booklet to her or him and watched

round eyes light up as they heard their name as the hero of the tale

children he didn’t know but cared about as only a doting grandpa can

E II service

 lovely young woman

chose to live a role in service

to an empire

died beloved

because of her integrity

to that decision

                        mjNordgren  9/19/2022  N

clue of absence

haiku

how long to notice

absence of sound: crickets still

birds fearful, silent

we take turns

 haiku

 lingering anger

with talk-over-anyone

our non-listener

me central

the sun rises directly east of my desk on my birthday

each year i watch the season-causing wobble as sol creeps

along my wide horizon, south for the winter warmth

and north in summer for respite from brown drought

it is like the moon’s path directly toward me across the water

i may not be the center of the universe

but I can see how some people could convince themselves they were

succeeding

haiku

 morning chill after

searing months’ set up of fire

smoke-enhanced sunsets

generous spirit

her generosity of soul giving again and again

where those who receive think not of returning

or even of carrying their own weight

how do i protect her?

or would i be interfering?

how do i answer?

 blue-purple larkspur and asters surround a vibrant sunflower

and yellow, gold and auburn roses, lilies and daisy wanna-be’s

bouquets in clear glass and handmade cream-white and blue pottery vases

preen beside the drawstring bag of earl gray tea

my heart sings with their proof of ‘i love you, mom’

my tears of undeserved joy

                                    mjNordgren  9/11/2022  N

tall tail

tall tail

 does emerge from the tall grass at the slope of my yard

stately now, and intent on feeding

the cold mornings have heralded the coming of fall and winter

yesterday a spring-born youngster wandered onto my lawn

curious about the california quail and tin bucket until

he realized mama deer was nowhere in sight

like a child, he splayed his feetin sudden sweeps of his head to look

and bounded off into the tall grass after her

mumble mutter

ranting and swearing are not my thing

although i can mumble with the best of them

under my breath

perhaps it is healthier than turning myself inside-out

with sadness over something i cannot control or even change

drat it all!

straw elderly

straw elderly

 oblong hay bales

stacked, columns leaning

into one another

like old married folks

unsteady on their own

but holding each other upright