twenty-nine candles-

my yearbook gathers

a little more dust...

afternoon traffic-
a V of geese waits
for no one

backseat tales of
playground adventures-I turn
the radio off

a whispered prayer
resonates above the horn-
braking just in time

on the screen,
a tiny white flicker-
my heart beats in sinc

treetops whisper
outside my window-
secrets between friends

uninspired
until the first leaf whispers,
"watch this..."

a single light
ripples across the water
so dark and deep-
I think of you
at midnight...

orange moon
in my rearview mirror-
autumn just ahead...

strange...
how softly summer
slips away,
like smooth sand between my toes-
saunters away,
like slow-moving feet on some southern sidewalk-
sails away,
like the sultry night song that ends with a sigh
slides away,
like the salty teardrops that spill
when suddenly summer is not the season,
but a bittersweet memory,
stirring my soul.


(I realize that summer is not over according to the calendar, but for me, it is. This teacher goes back to work tomorrow...another summer slips away, but another new adventure awaits. :)

no need to wish
on that distant star-
two pink lines

she smiled

and suddenly the summer

was alive

with colors

I had never known

sly crescent
hangs low
in the night sky-
everyone has
a secret...

daybreak-
the cool pillow warmed
by her sigh

summer night-
floating in the heavy air,
her lullaby

road trip-

backseat daydreams

take her miles away...

alone at midnight-
finding silence has
so much to say...

smiling

as streams of sunlight

land on the sheets-

one more hour

to dream

(Enjoying my first few days of summer vacation...and so glad to be back!!!)

Just wanted you all to know that I'm taking a break from blogging for a while. I wish you all well. I'll be back eventually. God bless!

Kristin

I went for a walk in my neighborhood tonight. The weather is beautiful here right now...loving spring!

Last Dance

March 20th. I glance at the calendar one more time to make sure that I have not temporarily lost my mind.
Yes, it is March 20th...the first day of Spring. Yet, this scene outside my kitchen window looks like the hand-painted winter wonderland on the coffee mug from which I sip. The tree in our backyard sways and struggles against a bitter wind. I shake my head and smile as I watch the brand new buds on its branches turn from green to white.

"May I cut in?"

asks the old man-

last dance

hanging them

on the crescent moon,

these thoughts

I'm just too tired

to think...

(at the end of a busy week......exhausted. ONE DAY 'TIL SPRING BREAK!!! :)

smiling brown eyes

reflect four tiny flames-

when did I go

from counting toes

to counting candles?

aching for spring-

I only thought I loved

anticipation

three little pigs

and three little bears

in one twin bed-

The Complete Works of Shakespeare

will just have to wait...

the plane lands,

but this place isn't home,

just concrete and dirt

until I feel the warmth

of your hand and your kiss

New York City

Hello dear friends! I haven't posted anything in a few days because I am busy enjoying my trip to New York City. I am attending a wonderful teaching conference at Columbia University. We have really enjoyed the city. I love to just take off and explore when I travel. Luckily, I am here with two friends (my principal and another teacher from my school) who are the same way...laid back tourists who just love to walk and see. We're having such a fabulous time. I miss my husband and my daughter, though. I've never been away from my little girl for this many days in a row. I probably won't be posting any poetry until I return home, which will be Saturday. The picture above is my friend Shelly and I in front of our beautiful hotel on the Upper West Side, The Lucerne.  I hope you all are having a wonderful week. I'll be back in a few days.

Love from the Big Apple,
Kristin

For my Valentine

I love them-

all the ways

that you love me-

the playful squeeze

as you pass by me

standing at the kitchen sink

with my hair pulled back,

and you smile at me-

you smile, like I’m beautiful-

me, in my ponytail

and this old apron…

yes, I love them-

all the ways

that I love you back-

stealing kisses as you rob

a cookie from the sheet…
and I let you

because I only made them

to see that look on your face-

you know the one,

the one that says

“I love you”

in a million-and-a-half
different

little

ways

staring at

the dismantled crib

in their spare bedroom,

she prays that the groundhog's

prediction is wrong

Special thanks to my friend, Rhonda Shade, for the amazing photograph.

winter chill-

your warm whispers

tickle my ear

listening

as snow lands on snow-

I melt

Train Set

somber lullaby

carries me away-

train song

************************************************

mournful cry-

the conductor

going nowhere

************************************************

balancing on

very thin rails-

am I on track?

my ticket

to a lover's paradise-

snooze button

pale white moon
through naked branches-
whispers in the dark

cold toes

in warm sand-

cerulean waves

crash onto the shoreline

of my winter daydream

eliciting

warmth from deep within-

your fragrant words

(In response to Magyar's post from January 5th..http://magyar-haiku.blogspot.com/)

the taste of
sweet maple syrup
and salty tears-
kisses on
the softest little face.

new year
same old night shift-
kissing through the phone