BOO

Just casual neighbors, friendly and thankful for the company, shared food and occasional joint, yard duties of cutting grass and shoveling snow, not knowing much about each other, but free and open.
That fall Saturday was beautiful, golden, maple leaves from the big tree in our yard, neither with a rake. Ran to the hardware, some orange trash bags, and last thought, pumpkin. Grandkids on the way. Afternoon of color and rustle, piling and bagging, carving in the evening. Decide on the face-compromise, triangle eyes, curved brows, crescent nose, jagged teeth. She contributed candle, ready for the onslaught of goblins and ghosts, candy overflowing.
They came in two's and three's, sunset draped. Evening was cool and clear. Both grabbed a sweater, but arms felt better, as Jack gleamed and grinned. Dusk relented and riddle rolled to an end, kiss.
We shared the structure of our house, refugees from life, we feared the lonely night alone.
I love the life I live and the people I meet in between.
Hi there, half moon and Orion's belt. I'll be there in a minute, got something else to do.

Lisa and Kim Depart

The clown is dead
long live the clown

Strange emptiness to the day
Twisted maple outside the window
Empty floors, rugs rolled up
Prisoners freed from the cell

It's just another day
subject to the tides
and whims of gods we do not know
although we ask
only the barest brush upon our face
Life is so distant

ALACRITY

Morning magenta,
dark clouds east,
corridors of growing light,
monuments of stone, steel, glass

Life in abeyance
pieces in motion
game goes on