January good for short poems

by Pat Laster

a dry gum leaf
traveling up the pine
in the squirrel's mouth
(2000)
~~~~

cardinal
amid the ice-thickened
branches
(2012)
~~~~

two inches of snow
           no birdseed
                no birds
(2001)
~~~~

after the thaw
fallen branches
become kindling
(2001)
~~~~

another night
below freezing
inside, firelogs burn
(2013)
~~~~

icicles
where beautyberries once hung
inside cat wants out
(2013)
~~~~

Perfect
blanket of frost
adorns the land as if
a cosmic artist painted while
I slept.
(2013)
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