“Let’s not call it sex,” he said. “Let’s call it zugging.” Zugging? I thought. I think everyone else thought it too. A subliminal message; it had to be. I mean, say it aloud: Zugging. It sounds like ugly . . . or just plain ugh! Great way to keep us…

I often walked by this tree — a wide, knobbly beech behind the boulder where I like to sit and write. My focus was always on getting to the boulder and, for the past week, taking a fond look at the red-splotched mushrooms peeping through the moss around it. …

Poem A memory came up — strangely pleasant. After thirty years of thinking, “Exploitative, egomaniac asshole! Whyyy, I oughta . . .” I’ve just remembered how, when we were first dating, there were quiet evenings after choir at his place with cups of tea, quiet music, and long talks. It…

Haiku While bending backward Vessels burst in the third eye A painful present

Haiku Unmusical friend Steals an hour, flies at sunset With punctual charm

The day was going well for me when I stopped in for cake and tea. I claimed my favorite table (gloat!), unwound my scarf, took off my coat. Then, under fairy doors and lights — Well, had I not been wearing tights (this is tawdry; beg your pardon) I’d have flashed the…

Haiku Mercury, pensive Draws deep and mischievous notes With unweathered hands

Poem Over a decade now. Still strange to prowl without you, friend. Nobody talks about you much. The other night, though, I could hear your sniff-sniff-huff, Your toenails on the wood Outside my bedroom door And found, this morning, One short, black hair Clinging to my wrist.

Haiku Welcome, wanderer We remember this old waltz No need to look down