four faces
Owen took this photo of Spidey the other day.
four faces
locked in an argument
about essentials:
safety and love –
our boys aren’t speaking
(to each other –
they are ranting to us)
then Owen unexpectedly crosses
no-man’s land
calmly says
there’s something Cedar should see
we all look up
(some more skeptically than others)
Spidey has a family
he announces
and we all spill out of the house
gaze up into the rafters
where a line of four sweet chipmunks
placidly gaze back at us
smiles wide between their cheeks
absolve us all
without lifting a paw
let us move on
to the hugging
part of the day
geometer
geometer
some days I’m like that inchworm
reaching
reaching
catching only air
swaying
then doubling over
in a submissive swan dive
forward fold
forehead to knees
palms right back
along those planted feet
I disappear into twig
taking stock of this
bright swirling world
slowly gauging how I measure up
like those geodetic explorers
dragging their chains behind them
trying to find
their place on the sphere
Roof Ranch Outdoor Tour
Cedar and Owen give you a tour of some of Roof Ranch’s outdoor amenities. Check out the Airbnb listing for more, plus photos of the interior (before we filled it with our stuff…). We’re in Coal Creek Canyon, outside of Golden, Colorado.
big bear comin’
our resident bear decoy
big bear comin’
Hi, big bear, not afraid of people
headed towards your house*
we look at each other and nod
time to take precautions
to hide those honey bears
at the backs of shelves
secure the latches
on the hot tub
hook the zip line seat
in place
set the parking brake
and put the cars in gear
give the children
whistles in bed
close the piano keyboard
put the fuzzy slippers
close to the crack
under the door
(to pretend this house
already has its bear)
and pray it’s not your time
then wait
one ear to the ground
one finger testing the wind
*We got this text at dinner tonight. Considerate, alarming, befuddling. What should one do when a bear is on the way? We actually did: bring the dogs in, close and latch the main level windows and doors, abandon our plans to go across the creek to set up the wildlife camera tonight, cover the grill, and hang the hummingbird feeder higher. What else should we have done? What else would you add to the poem’s whimsical to-do list? We may need your suggestions for tomorrow!
