Flamingo

Flamingo

They wade on their stick legs
bent low to seine out tiny shrimp
the pink of their feathers
marking their success.

Cactus on the shore
in odd contrast to all the water
surrounding the island
but it’s salt,
all salt,
not water for drinking, washing, or growing.

Harsh water for a harsh
but beautiful place.

--bam

Armature

Armature
--for Ellen Kort

Over the wires,
lay on the muscle of batting,
fibers soft yet strong.
Tuck in a scrap of wishes and hopes.
Fold on a skin of resilient fabric
smooth and young or wrinkled with age.
Mold it to the form
with tiny stitches, cell to cell.
Carve her features in soft clay.
Be gentle and kind with her eyes
and don’t forget tears.
Soothe her mouth with loving words.
Open her ears for sympathy.
Style her hair with abandon;
black, brown, yellow, red or gray.
Array her in garments shot with gold,
embellish them with beads that
sparkle and bells that ring.
Cup her hands to fit a child’s cheek,
a lover’s heart and
a dear friend’s need.
Give her strong feet to travel
the needed miles and
bear what life throws her way.

Her heart’s in the hands
that made her,
in every wire and fiber,
every stitch and snip,
on the scrap of wish-paper
nestled inside,
in the clay and fabric,
beads and bells.
Spirit heart of the maker,
wishful hands
quickened with
hope and joy.
The beautiful hands
that fashioned her,
bathed in laughter
and tears,
put her heart
into every moment of
creation.

--bam

Creole Wrasse

Creole Wrasse

Like an endless blue ribbon
they stream across the reef
dipping to the coral,
mouths agape,
inviting tiny yellow cleaners
to nip away parasites.

--bam

Autumn Teatime

Autumn Teatime

Taps of icy drops on the pane,
horizontal rain beating the bricks,
the blustery wind takes over raking,
mounding drifts of colored leaves
in the lee of the pines,
curlicues of orange spice tea
tickle my nose as I warm
my hands on the mug.

--bam