morning moments

fire stoking
in the first sun glints
coffee perking
furnace clicking on
whoosh of warmth
rolls across the floor
temple dog scurries
for cereal scraps

tired monk
 pulls a comb
 through damp novice curls
a most beautiful gift
from the abbess

spring nights

tires crunch
breaking ice
and the 4 am silence

smoke floats
and papers fly
out the driver side window

spring hockey

the snowmobile trail sinks
settles into the fading snow
ice cracks flick
into existence
grow
groaning out
over the lake

hockey net slowly tilts
 topples
 into the bay

fever

monks head bowed deep
in sun blocking hood
doubled up
fevers and chills

burning and sweeping
lingering mind rust debris

a thirty hour famine
a forced meditation

crack one eye
look through fading pain

brew a head steadying tea
ready again
for duties and prayers

some nights I just want to listen to hockey

i)

snows melting
sagging deep down
freeing the wheels

ii)

am signal flickers
last edge of the Wings game
rev the engine
push the last miles
into the Blackhawks broadcast