The poem this week is a hai-net—that hybrid of haiku and sonnet—written well within the ten days of sitting shiva for an election that means the death to some degree of much that I have loved since I was a boy: nation and nature, kindness and peace, love and compassion for all. Still, life is beautiful and sweet, and when hope fails, love perseveres, and will not give up, I promise!

take a last look now
hard frost comes to this garden
so much goodness gone

dahlia tubers dug
sunflowers left out for birds
let kale stand and hope

hottest year ever
again and again fire ice
where does tao lead now

bless young activists
the old say bless warrior joy
our fall brings their spring

the tao wants freedom
health peace rule of spirit love
it outlives killers

we feed winter birds
we put dahlias out each spring
love and hope no end

light the cookstove fire
smell sweet garden harvest scents
rise from love’s oven

11/13/24