the first year

waking up

a new family

in my childhood home

raspberries fall on
              milky skin
baby giggles
        pop like balloons

broken pot
mother's old cactus
     still blooming

rocking into twilight

milk pools

in the crook of my arm

dark

cool air

her open purse

sudden ice
    the museum of a warm autumn
still-green leaves under glass

january candles

baby's first year here
mother's first year gone

    red leaves

     red birds

       flying

       falling

the gentle wind

first birthday balloons

Issa's angels

cardinal!
   her quick, short steps left tracks

       in the last patch of snow

our shadows thrown under her wailing face

                                the closest moon

the realty sign appeared
   just after
     the apple blooms

a bad winter

dreaming your blizzards
into cherry blossoms


-for the people of Japan