Santa and Dasher had a quiet talk in the glen
They discussed the elf situation, and the presents so thin.
I do not have to get paid this year, Dasher admitted.
I have condos and townhouses, and my monies well fitted.
That would not be fair, Santa told his generous reindeer.
I could not accept such charity; though your intent is clear.
The other reindeer have investments and wealth plenty I bet.
We’ll donate our salaries to help you make all toys you can get.
The elves were on board, and said pay us in cookies, not money.
Mrs. Claus said “They are wanting to do this. Let’s let them, Honey.”
Santa had forgotten how wonderful the feeling of giving can be.
Finally, he said yes, giving a healthy thanks for their generosity.
A lone black crow
sits on a limb of a tree
amongst a crowd of trees
that surround the townhouses.
The trees' silhouettes
are drawn on the brick;
on the shingled roofs;
by the Sun this Late January.
The dark shape of the crow
is starker than the trees' cast
of the night color; it is spectre-like,
within the arms of the spectator-like trees.
The branches are frosted with yesterday's spitting snowflakes.
Their bark is the tint of stones;
or the grains of sand on an Irish shore,
viewed on the one rainy day
of a journey so long ago.
A squirrel scurrying up the tree
is the same color-
of the rough or smooth stone,
bleached by the Sun;
of the wet sand of the shore in Ireland,
whose dunes crouch to watch the tides ebb,
to see the pull of the floating Moon.
The squirrel blends into the mourning dove
tinctures as if he were a captive
of the Winter day..
or brushstroked into an oil painting.
The crow, hue of a cold desert night,
lifts to fly away.
The shadows become new shapes
in the shifting sunlight..
they become charcoal spirits
in her sketch of an agued morn'.
Shifty brown waters
Gnarled grey shack
on a verdant grassy pier
Snow white townhouses
on nearsighted shores
The sky, powdery blue
and you,
And it rained on me today
Soaked me to the skin instantly
I had prepared for it
Worn a cap to keep my glasses dry
A tee shirt and thin cotton shorts
It was near the end of my mail delivery route
To stand at cluster boxes for townhouses
The mail was wet as I and hard to read after the first try
Oddly enjoyable, waking memories of playing in puddles and
Floating stick boats down rushing gutters
Letting water run in streams on me
Only washed free after the last delivery
As driving back through waves of traffic wake
To hope I’d find that place again
For different views of life
Reached from a happy place
Ever laughing inwardly
Enjoying the moment
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