Morning

One by one, I

raise the paper

shades and let

the morning in.

Blue Sky, Gold Leaf

One golden leaf against

the blue sky. Then

it was

gone.

Goats

“Mississippi farm yard” Kristin Cleage

“A few pigmy goats would clean

this yard right up.”

He said, looking at the

overgrown green

through the window.

Forty years ago he suggested

six milk goats, and

left town. Buckets

of milk overflowed

my kitchen table.

Next Time

“Face” Kristin Cleage

In my next life

I’ll dance like

Antonia La Singla.

My hands like

birds, my heavy

hair swinging.

 

The Sky

“Idlewild Lake House” Kristin Cleage 1990s

Floating in the lake, the

water dulling the sound

of the children,

I look at the sky,

disappearing into the

clouds. Nights in

winter, wrapped in blankets, I

sat on the deck and

watched the stars,

planes following their

paths through the sky.

I thought of dying there when the

time came, disappearing into

that wide sky.

 

 

Waves

I see something in

the breaking waves,

a dog, a bird, a swimmer.

The waves curling,

crashing,

spreading over

each other. Rolling,

joining.

Waves and spray.

Blue sky.

 

Sunrise

Poem and photograph © Kristin Cleage

Rising from the

ocean, the sun

made a path

of light.