Category Archives: Uncategorized

I’m always glad when I read your notes to the world.—Julie Woodside That’s what they are?These little spit-up poems that show up daily now,arriving with so little effort they can hardly be calledproper poems—not labored over or crafted over daysor … Continue reading →

For Nell Lester,Feb. 5, 1930–Dec. 3, 2023 and for Sue Lester,best daughter••• A hui hou—until we meet again—people say in Hawaii, perhaps with a kiss onthe cheekwhen they part— a hui houat the end of a life,as the mourning dove … Continue reading →

(North shore, Kauai) All day we circle the baseof the thousand-foot triangularpeak at the end of the road— the gift called Makana—as we recognize its Bali Hai silhouettefrom the distance of Makua Beach, and, later, under its majestic shadowas our … Continue reading →

The sky looks as if it’s trying to make up its mindbetween spitting drops or tossing out a bit of weak sunshine on the first morning of the year’s lastmonth. In this place it will likely do a bit of … Continue reading →

(On the road circling Hanalei Bay, Kauai) Saw a guy on the sideof the road, waxing hisstick, right out in public. They do that here.“Sexwax,” Dick said,as we drove by, sounding like thefamous surfer whobears the same name, though Dick … Continue reading →

(Eucalyptus deglupta) •••For Dick••• Of course, it would be rainbowon these islands where rainbowsabound, vertical bands of peeling barkstripped away, down to the essenceof eucalyptus, visible from your hospital windowafter the collapse, the vanishing,the reappearing. We watched the tree; I … Continue reading →

Frankly, it makes it hardto concentrate on the taskat hand, so to speak, sittingon the throne, looking intoa mirror on the inside ofa pink Frigidaire roughlythe same age as me. But I love it. Somehow I failed to appreciatepink as … Continue reading →

Flippering into the sea,bounced around by wavesmore than I like, alwaysa beginner every time I hit salt water, foggingthe mask, trying to clearthe snorkel, liquidreminders that I am a visitor in this world.When I finally feel myshoulders relax andfin gently, … Continue reading →

They really exist, especially the nightbefore full, raining down lightas if it’s noon, the palm tree shadow on the lawnso distinct the camera picks it up,renders it faux day, though it’s not yet 2 a.m., cloudsshrouding the moon, so it’s … Continue reading →

at the beginning of a new day,the sky murky with a curtainof cloud the color of mourning dovescooing the morning intobeing, I can look mauka, behind me,to the mountains, morningmisted, hear birds peep and squawkand chortle the day intobeing. But … Continue reading →