before you--

before you

focus on that 

right before you

moment it's 

that one

you have here

before you--

still-- swaying

                   c h a n d e l i e r s

       as always               still

                  on the floor

               .          

       in my 
               mind                            
                 . . .      

                             hanging 


           fixed--on     
                        
             a        
         pristine golden ceiling
 above 
                  --
                      .

                               

look! back..

refresh glance refresh : images i'd never thought : glance refresh glance glance

in wind and through--

leaves fall swept up still let go. care. but not carried away, they dance around again

keep track

ride still plan on fail run don't listen walk cross-- but still, still.... still. on. track-- 

tracks.

breathless knock. closed door. no answer.

to hold this breath unwilling unable to all at once 

for no reason beyond reason you-- [at worst-- are fearing the best?] i-- stop--

again breathless knock out breath to give to take but 

any breath but this--

 reason beyond reason

at once for no--

to all--  

to hold this breath unwilling unable to--

all--

so write on the world's stage 

[six words]

second

             


               still 




   remember last 


         august 
             turned 
   september 




              [six words]

but in a break

breaks underfoot
moment comes over
birds fly
together
loneliness escapes
at a stoplight gaze
across from--
peace of--
piece of--
mind--
art--
forms
glides
disperses
turns around
all in the dance
back
forward
together
soar again
unison
find
that place
in place
never looks
like what you-- thought
it-- would
when-- you-- first started--
to break

guess that's the thing about luck

all the pennies i passed on the street today were face down. someone told me once that face down pennies are bad luck, so i walked quickly past. the last thing i need today is more bad luck that i could have avoided.

• • •

speaking of luck-- good...bad...or whatever crosses your path, check out the 'chantal the black cat' poem that one of my 4th grade students wrote! i posted it just an hour or two ago, while sitting in the car after a very unlucky day-- the unluckiest really--  getting the last drops of my laptop battery and stretching the wireless from the closed cafe to my parking spot. her playful poem is here on my words and photo booth moments blog

no dust in sight

                        dust. 
          
   so far behind /
                                the clouds--

                                            have cleared--        the dust--

in /
my eyes 
                            left-- 


     the tears

[haiku] poetry on the line.

empty chaotic

amidst your c h a o s claustrophobic melodic free trapped in escape [haiku]

syllables lend wings swings to hours

birds [morningnight] fly


darkness bring sun hide in light


you--  [mid]  i--  found  [flight]  ----


[haiku]

six inescapable magnetic words resonate- imaging-

       
             
         MRI 
                  
                           TECHNO 


    B E A T S
            

                            in
    
     my 


             h e a d 

and what color is marigold

[for abby and poets of blossoms]


dare to ask if your flower is a daffodil
is it wilted or fresh from the store
about to bloom or already--
what butterfly is it
whose wing on wind almost
tickled your cheek

and what color is marigold

[six words] precarious

alone walking backwards on a tightrope

off the mark

question what happened to ellipse simple

six[chandeliers on the floor]words

shards

              of             light--                                    


  

                  only

                  


                                            the beginning



six[chandeliers on the floor]words

poetry i drove past in winter

red balloon caught between the branches



[six words]

silence

          on           the                   line
 [drying   in the     sun]     [swaying    in     the breeze]
      
           ROCK                  in
sheet          music      tune
                                 words          RUFFLED.
                                            silence

entr'acte

the orchestra plays a tune in tune my words hum along the words

scale

arms stretched out -- trying for balance

then the syllables pile up, naturally.

window
closed to outside
garden only think we
know what breeze trapped in metal screens
whispers




for the story behind this cinquain poem and some laughs brought to you from the kids who keep throwing more and more syllables into my days [click here]

a science

balance. measure. in measure, for measure--

found six words

you lost in the meantime manuscripts

fences.

fences.

nothing fancy—

wire fences – you can see through lean against

they bend with you

shaky rhythm

in motion

wire fences

all over— to block off, for safety,

to KEEP [climb over] OUT but yet—

see it all, see through it,

looking in looking out through

diamond-shaped wire frames the traffic, old buildings,

sunsets, dirt piles

and parking lots

see it all through

wire fences

either side

nothing fancy

they bend with you

sunsets, dirt piles, in motion, diamond-shaped wire

frames shaky rhythm

fences they bend

with you to KEEP [climb over] OUT but yet—

see it all, see through it, see it through and you and

sitting on either side—

fences.

in winter hanging bright spots of color in darkness from blog entries scribbled

in time like oranges

in winter hanging bright on

dark clouds and strong leaves

 ..•.

in time like oranges

in winter hanging bright on

dark clouds and strong leaves

fall.

•

.

at once -- rough winds or ready

.

fallen. sometimes the sweetest fruit-- winter.

.•.

hi.

after a long absence (i've been scribbling down all my blog entries on papers ..easier on the head to stay away from the computer screen.. and i've been caught up in typing kids' stories and newspaper when i do get on the computer, and so i've never gotten to typing my stuff here, but you know i've been writing, and still making entries, how could i not....?) nevertheless, in the midst of darkness (literally) and worsening headache today,

i bring you: one haiku two ways, •and with an extra syllable• and two six word stories that i stitched together.

the other day i was struck by the brightness of the oranges in my backyard, glowing on the tree in the bareness of winter when the surrounding trees seemed to have literally given up. but the oranges were there hanging strong in the wind and rain against the dark clouds, and i'd never really considered how they hang on there, through it all, (thick skin i guess) and still give us the sweetest juice through the shortest days of the year, and all winter long. At times we hear this loud •thump• from outside as another orange --rough winds or ready-- falls from the waxy leaves of the tree and hits the deck, fall. and still the other oranges cling cheerfully to the tree, the bright oranges embraced by the (ok, yes, not so common in california, but we still have winter) dark grey of a cloudy ominous sky. it was there before me the other morning ..this image.. as if i'd never noticed. and yet i enjoy the fresh and plentiful orange juice every winter. and so i hurried inside to scribbled down this haiku.

and sitting here today in darkness, i remembered it. and you, and this.... and it's been so long since i posted any of my writing, and some of you are so good, so loyal about contacting me and checking on here, or encouraging me, and i don't always respond right away, but i answer in my head, i've composed great responses in my head! and those words from you are my oranges, and you know who you are, and it will get better, and i always say i will try but then life-- and then life--

but i will try.

and while looking for spots of color in darkness--

x c

brush off : the sparkling pieces that fell through the cracks of indifference

their brazen image mirrors shattered extravagance




chandeliers on the floor-- my pieces.




enough's enough.
with words nothing's wasted.



3 six word stories

if time was ours

footprints mirage whispers turn the hourglass

six words abandoned

change leaves fall colors walls abandoned

there is a season

too warm for this fall
too dark to linger in dusk's
embrace without you--

indian summer : my seasons : six words

indian summer to fall discontent winter


.

never black and white- six words

cloud cover shadows sunshine infused fog...

more than words

small voices big words
sparkle for-- laugh with-- moments
when i couldn't-- did.








 



(new photos with my writing students on flickr there's no way you can't smile looking at these... they really do inspire me. enjoy the weekend. x c)

what was is still

what was is still and--
cold feet fell deep reflections
made memories and still--

.

.

 .

...since 1969
for my parents' ruby red 40th wedding anniversary!

out of focus reflection

come words gone --focus--
--out of focus-- photographs
steal moments words lost

.

.

.

steal moments words lost
--out of focus-- photographs
come words gone --focus--

(six words)

i don't take photographs of flowers--


(inspired by this photo : here)

then—

then—
her laughter
shattered my silence—
a faint light
flickered in darkness
as pieces of her laughter
fell—
sparkled
--reflected
danced—
touched me
--gently
let them fall
laughter
and her eyes big
–gleamed with
something else to
tell me on another day
as her nose scrunched
and the corners of her mouth
could no longer contain
her laughter

(for abby)

 photos : by c 
(my ever-evolving flickr)

and puzzle six words

found the peace i was holding

puzzle haiku : hold syllables

hold pieces in my

fingers like syllables in

words touch fit just right

--revolving door--

--was there-- wanted to be-- life
turned around with and by--
chance and whim-- revolving door--
i've stepped out for air-- now
sit still-- right here on solid
ground dizzy hold on--
to you and watch at times--
they arrive step in and
turn out-- revolving door--
the reflections --spin
and dance-- as they come--
and go--

--revolving door--

to fall : six words

the words fell from my fingers


.

last train

when you run i run
after you last time last train
last breath we made it

.

now we drive past

missed the train on purpose waited for the next : flirted with disaster in shadows of the light at the end of the tunnel

..and six more

as august drifts closer to september--

six words times two

.

the wind touches then leaves-- fall---


.
,

pages rustle as we write stories

.

.

{thanks for all the support in my absence my dear friends you are much appreciated. i finally updated all 3 blogs today and you can read a bit more about my absence here or here. back soon}

big kiss. x c

precarious-- still--

:

.

wind rustles the leaves
precarious-- still-- they can't
deny they've fallen

:


.
:

traces : left : to make

.

footprints trace those in
smooth sands deep that time will tell--
the hours-- yours to make

.

{for maria teresa & christophe ♥ 11 july 2009}
.

.
.

porcelain :: pages unfold haiku

.

.
.

porcelain pages
blown open by this wind your
fragile faith shatters

.

almost falling

.

often trip over
instances oblivious
and keep on walking


.

wading :: underwater~haiku

.
.

wading through waiting
drowning in waves that at times
caress my warm skin~


.

.



.
.


~underwater~haiku series~

{fin}
.

holding :: underwater~haiku

.

i found peace the breath
i was holding became my
next my final swim~

.

.


{underwater~haiku series}

thought :: underwater~haiku

.



.
.

worth every dizzy
second when i never thought
i'd come up for air~

.


{underwater~haiku series}

reflected :: underwater~haiku

:

come up for air the
world magnified slowed view light
reflected silence~



:



{underwater~haiku series}

take :: underwater~haiku

.

:


pulls me takes me lulls
me and lets me fall in slow
motion gliding down~

.

:



.





{from underwater~haiku series}

magnified :: underwater~haiku

.


the world magnified
slowed don't want to move let me
hold this breath let go~

.

.



.

{from underwater~haiku series}

fall :: underwater~haiku

.


.

touch gentle rhythmic
water heavy pulls me lulls
me down lets me fall~

.




{first of a new underwater~haiku series}

#sixwords

.

you changed the way i dream


.



.

stepped out from shadows

blinked in the sunlight
squinted surprise in your eyes
you winked cuz you knew--
.

tracks

::

railroad tracks old and
broken and trains sometimes crash
and do we go back----

::

::
.

just thought--

i heard the rain all along always brought my umbrella because the storm would pass-- did-- again and would-- would have walked through the rain with you, again, would have even danced-- again, heard it all along, just thought-- if you-- but the clouds

carousel

.

:
.

i'd lost my ticket
second glance found you by chance
ride the carousel

:
.

turn back

.

denial plays a
song drive home check blind spot need
to hear that again

.

our tracks and a railroad

.

::

::

::

this railroad was here before me
and before you and here
when you sat by my side here
bright mornings when no one else
existed but us and here when you missed
the train and here when i road
alone here when i wondered why--

::

and all at once understood the silence
before those souls take last breath
lost walk along solitary
final steps on to the tracks
got this one way ticket--

::

but somehow we're here again
back along these railroad tracks
dignified moment of silence
for seen unseen still here and though
so much has changed at times
it would seem nothing's changed

::

and i hear you in the soft approach of
the train in the distance
the tunnel the light the ticket the fight--
fall and step walk run miss-- laughter
whistles past this railroad here
before me and you here when you
sit by my side and for a moment
we look out the same window.

::

::

.

footprints crossed

:

never crossed the mind

unholy footprints side by

side faiths merge we walk

.

:

train de nuit

.



:: missed chances taking you
where you belong
on an old train found with the one
you'd never dreamed of
until today ::



.



:: until today
you'd never dreamed of
on an old train found with the one
where you belong
missed chances taking you ::


.

glimpse

.

dust off the window
peer in-- the world still as it
was we are could be

.
.
.




inspired by ::
train de nuit post on my words and photo booth moments blog :: la voila

night air hums

.

.



.


the slow breathing tick
of watch falling leaves distant
airplane night air hums

.

.





.

nightstand

took denial with
the glass of water on my
nightstand, need to sleep

.

that

that i would always
remember that you'd always
forget----

.

.



.

motionless touch

.


.
.


.

.
hot fresh still open
window curtain motionless
touch this moment lost


...


touch this moment lost
window curtain motionless
hot fresh still open


.

.



.

somehow know--

:

there's a whisper in
the air can't quite hear somehow
know-- it's about you




.
:

and found sleep at last

.

.
.




.


curtains sway drift but
cannot rest with you wonder
what it'd be like--

.

:: in between ::

.
:


water meets land past
meets present you winked at me
somewhere in between



.

song in the distance

.
::

a song brings me back
nights when i was someone else
dancing here driving



::

.

faith

.

smile reflects courage
touch a small pond ripples in
sunlight generous

.


.


.

.


:: inspired by matt ::

Friedreich's Ataxia in the heart :: FAITH

.

old train ticket in my purse

.
.

after all this-- train
still passes in the distance
in our distance-- still--

.

this taste

night still dark as the
cherries sweet stems touch embrace
beside the almonds

.
.

.

don't always want to go

.

.
.
my mind takes me where
i don't always want to go
but sometimes you're there

.

.
.

.

her soft words accented

.

---and the next day gone
not ready-- to arrange her
death in syllables


.
.
.

in subtle light she glowed

.

at her mother's funeral
she watched the wooden box move
down the aisle and tears sympathetic
smiles and glances she tapped
her father on the shoulder
in the middle of prayer
to ask a quick question something about
what would happen next
she leaned on the pew with both
hands then bent down to brush off
the knees of her white tights
living in the presence of her friends
and in a rose scented whisper life carries on
.

.

.

.

.

sit with me

cafe table sun
on the brick wall a shadow
of an empty chair



.
:

.

the ride

.

human emotions
car honks in the street.. airplane
soars through clouds.. leaf falls



.

and this is what i write

::


the poetry of everyday, every day.

{sixwords}

::

seconds

:
sit here in open window evening silence
my watch sits on my desk beside me
i rest my head on my left palm and
pause to think and not think and
somewhere in this moment
i hear time pass


:
.

.

but still

i envelop the
envelope you never sent
words you never said
.



.
:

pieces could fall

.

.
.

.

i can't put you back
together still i can hold
you-- maybe you'll... fall--

.

in between the headlines

.

this just in.

scribbled words on a newspaper
at breakfast today
strong coffee warm walnut toast fresh cherries
how gentle to write like this
tender paper pen sinks in casually glides over yesterday's news
my words pressed in newsprint
on the edge my right palm smudged black ink
the words are scribbled
still-- you--
in between the headlines

.

:

.

.

in between the headlines
still-- you--
the words are scribbled
on the edge my right palm smudged black ink
my words pressed in newsprint
tender paper pen sinks in casually glides over yesterday's news
how gentle to write like this
strong coffee warm walnut toast fresh cherries
at breakfast today
scribbled words on a newspaper

this just in.

.

glow reflected

.

brilliant moon tonight
we were lost and found under
dark sky loyal glow
.

.
.

.
dark sky loyal glow
we were lost and found under
brilliant moon tonight
.

change

woke up this morning
and everything and nothing
had changed forever
.



.

.




..

full moon tonight

.

Darker than the night
i'll write these words without you
blinding bright full moon

.
.

.

. .tangled.

.
.

wish you could unwind--
yourself-- the web-- you're caught-- just
feel what touches you

. .tangled.


feel what touches you
yourself-- the web-- you're caught-- just
wish you could unwind--

.
.

seventeen syllables

.
.
the words are not there
seventeen syllables as
elusive as you
.

.
.




.

the unsent letter

.

your language or mine
wouldn't have made a difference
the unsent letter

.
.

accent

.
: whispering despair
when we laugh-- hidden echo
hints of your accent : .
.

that once you--

.

my cheeks that once you
kissed --stained with tears that once you--
that because of you--
.

mirage of what

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the mirage of what
we could be in this desert
tempted-- thirsty---
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

flashlight

.
.
turned on the flashlight
your silhouette in my mind
what was i thinking--
;

.
{mirrored haiku}
.
;
what was i thinking--
your silhouette in my mind
turned on the flashlight
.

.
;

train whispers

.

heard the whistle of
the train in your eyes open
window curtain danced . . .
.


.
.

what have i left?

.
.

what have i left

to write about

the dark swirls of this wood--

the last breaths of steam that rise from my coffee--

when all that seems to come to mind is you.

.

.
.