moon is waxing

as this year wanes

but first

christmas brings family

news breaking in the family

and

the lovliness of relationships kept dear

through distance and time;

this moon surprised me

way before dawn

when i stepped out the back door into

weather borrowed from september

(too warm!)

and the ground eager for snow not coming for days

as el nino shakes up thinking and knowing

but old luna i know

hiding behind that falling-down black cherry by the barn.

luna waits, winking, saying

keep paying attention.

it is the easiest

and hardest

thing to do.