Crane

Yesterday,
A Sighting!
The slim white bird returned.
With his long neck undulating
and legs very still,
fixated on a lizard.
We wait.
He waits.
Then,
a bulge in his neck.
Evidence.

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Daffodils

The first daffodils
show up by the
propane tank
and the roses that
need to be pruned.
Good.
There is still hope.

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Eucalyptus

Austere allelopathic Australian army
soldiering on
littering pods and leaves
so nothing else can stand.
A windbreak for
the parsley and celery and cilantro
standing in the wind
and watching the cars go.

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California rivers

There's no water in the Sespe
or the Santa Clara
for most of the year
(and don’t get me started
on the Los Angeles River).
But this is normal to me
because I have seen the
Santa Clara River flood
over the top of the bridge
and send oranges floating
down the roads,
turning the roads into a
river when normally the
river can be a
road.

Garden

This time of year
the zucchini bark
like low-slung dogs
and grow rings
like a tree.
You can age
them by sawing
them in half
and counting
the rings.
Yep, this one's old and woody.
Yesterday it was
the size of my
pinkie.
The tomatoes
laugh so hard that they
split in the

sun.

Secret nurseries

There are secret nurseries
around here where
you drive your truck on in
and you may be
able to talk to a little boy
who comes running
out with dogs and
he may sell you some
rosemary for remembrance,
a little tycoon,
agent for his absent parents.

Suspension in flight

Sometimes it is good to
look out your window
because then you see
that there are four
hot air balloons
in front of the Topa Topas
of Santa Paula.
It is a little misty
in the morning but
as you get in the car
and drive closer
you realize that it
is a clear and
beautiful day and that
the balloons are large
and colorful
and joyous.