in praise of maples

I found my self waltzing 
by the wood stove
turning to enjoy 
the radiant genius
of trees

will there be snow tomorrow?

the moon rose full in the twilight

with two pans rollin' thanks to the 

limbs of the grand old red elm 

that died of thirst

last summer

another record of today  

in the taste of the 

maple syrup
tomorrow  

spring

Months ago my olde mac was deemed "unfit"

and was summarily dragged off the internet-

as far as posting to my blog was concerned.

Since my posts focus on current events,

discoveries and paintings as they emerge,

there have been several chapters excluded.

Having finished the first run

of maple syrup a week ago and

now that it is the first day of spring,

perhaps i will be able to mark today

as a "recomencment".

painted listening

amidst an ominous calm

forest companions

from crows to chipmunks

sound the alarm

there's urgency in the

buzz of the bees in the

delicate yellow flowers

of jewelweed and the

sound of the autumns

caterpillar industry

hitting overhead leaves

mimics the sound

of falling rain

in a strange quality

of daylight

i photograph

a reiteration of a painting

called " the past rushing past"

as the rumble of distant thunder

finally mixes with the

surrounding chorus

and get the painting inside before

the heavens open up

"requiem for a cheerleader" 48 x 66 in.

the scream

there are frogs
both peepers and pippins
and the crickets in the
full moon rhythmic pulse behind
a crisp lyric dancing
with the wind in the leaves
i scatter almonds to the
flock of grouse
interrupted
on the lane-way
to this spring's firewood
elements
touching

i return to the quartz floods
and linseed, damar and turpentine
to paint the scream

this morning the blackbirds
congregated in the tree tops

"the scream" 48 x 66 in. ... as the past rushes past

forest mirage

painting in the woods

the heat of day diminishing

the sun settles toward

the distant ridge

illuminating

the translucence

of the jewel weed

against moss-covered

limestone

sweeping the straw

from the cut-stone terrace

the stems of the succulents that

succumbed to the drought

perhaps the painting

contains some of the

forest's longing

for rain

 "mirage"    66 x 48 in.

thanks to all who came to the exhibition

and after-party ... there was a suggestion

that we do it again