Poems for the waning year

ANIMALS HAVE IT RIGHT
Sleeping
winter away
not a bad idea--
even for older folks in cold
houses.
~ ~ ~ 12. 20. '16

PRE-CHRISTMAS DILEMMA
No room
at the table
to eat my evening meal:
wrapping paper, gift boxes, stamps
and cards.
~ ~ ~ 12. 22. '16

MIRACLE? MAGIC? HAPPENSTANCE?
I swear,
around bedtime
on Christmas, I heard strains
of "Silent Night" from the largest
wind chime.
~ ~ ~ 12. 26. '16

70 degrees
on an early winter day
a mockingbird bathes
~ ~ ~ 12. 26. '16

in the bare oak tree
one leafy branch still hangs
moving in the wind
~ ~ ~ 12. 26. '16

summer-like Christmas --
a juvenile squirrel climbing
the wet-barked oak tree
~ ~ ~ 12. 26. '16