ode to milk

sloshing
with butterfats
whole, part, skim -

there’s a hole in the fence! is your cow unpasteurized?
 

next door at the neighbors

Joy had gone joy riding as Joy does
staying out past curfew - which pisses off
the Mom and irritates the good-little-girl
sisters and friends – Meek, Mild and
of course Obedient (called Obie for short
even though she just hates that name.)
But Ornery - she just smiles.  Such drama
when barefoot-sneaking-in occurs. 
“But  Mo-ommm, at least I wasn’t
sneaking OUT at 3 a.m.!” Amen, says
the Boyfriend, listening from the street.

transaction at register 5

small town grocery clerk
hands small town sheriff
a bill and smiles.
"that will be $80."
"looks like I'm the one
who gives the big ticket
this time!" he grabs
the sack and smirks.
"you know, I had
my eye on you as you
drove past today."
"oh... well.... um... "does
it count that I waved?"
he grins and shifts the
bag. "it’s the guilty ones
who wave the hardest."

above the valley

sharp folds of winter cornice
the mountain –

below, the bumblebees

at the treat shop in Joseph

standing in the treat shop 
showing nothing but what
is on display on purpose.
well, and so much for
that attempted deception!
look deeply in the bottom
of this tea cup: can you find
a desired future; a reclaimed
past - or better - exactly
what the moment brings.
make a choice; take your first
nibble with gusto! it isn’t all
about deserving: the good stuff.

A season begun...

Spring's first swallows have blown through

  and struggle on these cold, wet, snowy mornings

    to find anything flying, resembling breakfast...
 

Meadowlarks almost sing when sun finds a hole

  as spinking sparrows and quieter relatives

     slip into the country, quietly hopeful.

Red fox pups dare the morning's dog traffic,

  Canada geese guard newly hatched broods,

     blackbirds struggle to sort themselves out.

Ahhh the first sprouts of tender nettles wave

  beckoning cuttings of tender new greens,

    promising tonics and welcome nutrition.

The hum of town lawnmowers is not yet,

  though lawn and yard torturers lurk gauging

    the dew, the temperature, old patterns.
 
Perhaps... springs first mushrooms are up,

  where winter deer sheds have already fallen

     luring the wastrels to the woods.

                                   --r.anderson 1May2011

seasonal change

the species list changes from day to day
all the bits interacting in a constant swirl
subject to the limiting factor of the
day or week or month. eight inch goslings,
weeds, noncharismatic microfauna, rot!
the good stuff in and under the pretty
stuff; and not a bit of it static: perilous
thing, life on life on life on life on life -
so messy, thank god, seasonal change