[Moon, Horses, and Groundfog]   [Another Stormed-in Day]

Moon, Horses, and Groundfog

A corner of dream opened
into night--soft ring
of the bell mare, close
to the open shelter where I slept.

A low fog had moved up from the river,
and the dark shapes of horses grazed
knee-deep in silvery light.

In the hazy reach between sleep
and waking,
I was among them, tasting the fog
that was our ground. It was cool,

and smelled of leafmulch,
of dampened ash,
and the slow breath of a glacier.

The moon stood still in a spruce tree,
and the sound of the river
moved away over polished stones.

I was midpoint on a journey
I had forgotten I'd begun,
and the dust of winter stars
covered the empty shoes beside me.

Another Stormed-in Day on the Mountain"
(After Li Po)

Days like this
I would
Write a poem for you
Full of clouds and loneliness.
But today
You're here with me,
We can talk quietly
Beneath the rattling rain.

Along the east ridge of
Bear Mountain,
The first dusting of snow.
And beneath the goosedown cover
Your body
Still brown with summer.

Let the seasons
Sweep past as they may,
Day by day
Even the smallest creeks
Find their way home.

Copyright @2000 Tim McNulty