Red Fox (to My Poems)

Vulpes vulpes, with your

little black nose,

your anxious eyes,

darting,

your den, under leaves

once red,

are ochre, burnt umber, and blowing away

in the air

of wet earth and maple smoke exhaled.

My palms,

holding ash

up to my fingertips, cool to the touch,

warm with a flame I cannot fan,

everything dying, like this.

But I’ll find you,

sometime October,

under the chestnut tree

wagging your tail,

Vulpes vulpes,

for me.

© 2016 Jennifer Wagner

It seems I am too busy for poetry right now.  But sometimes, she finds me.

fair maidens

photo © 2014 Jennifer Wagner

strawberry cream

and mint

renaissance girls,

spring’s popsicle juleps,

and the deer’s delight—

who wait

for the slumbering

of the gardener-knight

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

Varied Thrush

At the beginning,

ends,

and afters,

(the dawn,

the dusk,

the eclipsing of the rain shower),

you call:

1. wake up

2. calmly be

3. rejoice

I think you’re right.

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

We hear the Varied Thrush from our house every day.  I haven’t gotten a photo (they are quick to hide), but they are pretty orange and bluish-gray birds with a call much like a referee’s whistle.

For the open link at Poets United Poetry Pantry

Lovers' Boats (Naked, Unashamed)

Fairyland – Sunita Khedekar

beez buzz

zap

            zapp

fizzle

fuzzle

guzzle

            nuzzle

the pleasant

swish

rattle

rustle

of cotton candy pink

feather and wing

and clothes

fling

-ing

and skin dip-

ping

into the splash, giggling

a sarcoline

memory quilting

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

At dVerse Poetics Grace has invited us to write to the delightfully vibrant artwork of Sunita Khedekar.  She also encouraged us to use color words with the help of The Phrontistery.  The piece I chose to write to reminded me of a cabin we’ve stayed at a few times with a private outdoor hot tub in a beautiful natural setting…trees, creek…just picturesque.  We always chuckle at a sign they have posted there that reads, “We don’t skinny dip, we chunky dunk.”  Anyway, however you are…make a splash. ;)

clouded leopard

image:  wikimedia commons

at the zoo

for me

there is only

the clouded leopard

pacing

its fishbowl cage.

her sad eyes,

her muscles, taut—

excruciating

to be on display.

now, this isn’t popular

or proper.

come on, baby.

let us see you,

exploit you,

measure you.

we’ll feed you, promise.

you don’t want to be gregarious?

on facebook?

you must have your head

and spots examined.

there’s a reason

she climbs,

the best at it of her kind—

she’s designed to be

reclusive.

by day

she wants to rest

among the trees

and hunt at night,

elusive.

hidden

she keeps her pelt and cubs

and her sanity.

break the glass

and let her out, let her out—

she’s me.

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

Linking with other poets at Poets United:  The Poetry Pantry this weekend.

Estuary

Conifers and

salmon,

seagrass and

shellfish—

where fresh

meets salt,

where the tide

meets the river

in a cocktail

of creation;

a symphony,

if you will,

of the Conductor’s hand

who sets the tempo

and shapes the Sound

I live in.

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

For Poetry Jam:  Where You’re At.  Peggy has asked us to write about where we live.  I live in Puget Sound, a beautiful estuary region in Washington State.

Meant to Be

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

It only takes a moment

to see the light

as it’s crossing your path,

like quail to the apricot tree.

It only takes a moment—

and fifteen years later you know

it still is.

  

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Tomorrow my husband and I will be celebrating our 15^th Anniversary.  I have been absent from the blogging world for a bit…vacationing where there is not much internet connection and will be absent a bit more for celebrating our Anniversary.  I hope summer is treating you all well!