A MATTER OF SWARMS
Swarms of gnats
encircle the parked car
while bird watchers muse
and applaud, ooh and ah
like Fourth of July fireworks
as hundreds of sand hill cranes
fly away into Colorado’s blue sky.
A MOMENT OF YOUTH
Old man shuffles
his walker and dog
up the hill.
Scream, “Mush!”
and slap that leash
across canine hinny
and ride that walker
like a silver-streaking sled
sliding over sidewalk cement
all the way to the top
never minding blown-off hat
lying in the gutter with leaves.
Whoop and holler
all the way to the front door.
“Whew. We made it, pal,”
and the dog wags its tail.
