Morning Steps

It rained last night

Im sitting on the back steps

brushing my teeth

the ground is damp

the sky is silver, a hazy blue

crickets are screeching

a rooster is crowing

I can see him

golden white

with a black tail

a chicken is pecking

crows are complaining

our neighbor is hobbling back

to his house

with a round plastic well bucket

in each hand

the air smells fresh

like moist dry grass

of rain

of morning light

the hard step is cool

and I want to sit more

but my mouth

is full of toothpaste.

Full Moon in Goa...

There is nothing more beautiful, more grounding, and more calmingly peaceful

than the silver-white streaks of the Full Moon in Goa

highlighting a crest of sombre green coconut leaves.

Deep in the middle of the night, when all is quiet, this to me is the epitome of Nature.