Lines

by Carl Mayfield 

cooper's hawk swoop--
     eurasian collared dove
             everywhere

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

footprints leading
to the sandstone cistern
filling with snow

Joy

by Carl Mayfield

the child 
lights up
when the tree does

Lines

by Carl Mayfield 

spring winds finished--
       too late
           for the lilac

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

cooper's hawk--
       silent mouse
      learning to fly

Lines

by Carl Mayfield 

a few starlings--
  murmuration 
   rippling the blue

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

coachwhip snakes
    mating in the shade
       of the cedar tree

Blank Look #714

by Carl Mayfield

two ravens determined
juniper berries resistant

sky flashing blue
through the tree

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

  both sides
                  of a locked gate--
             cassin's vireo song

Blank Look #7

by Carl Mayfield

the daffodils are back
with their version of the story

Blank Look #819

by Carl Mayfield

      no post card
      can do it:
                   mountain peak
                   knowing where to stop

Blank Look #302

by Carl Mayfield

Standing on the escarpment,
city pollution at eye level.

In the valley below fossil fuels
are pushing their weight around.

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

soaring raven painting the sky black

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

i.
sandhill cranes too high to see

ii.
willow branch after the sparrow

iii.
horned owl swooping as low as he has to

Lines

by Carl Mayfield,

water bowl--
     bloated mouse
  lifting his head

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

bruised
     two apricots
paint the desert

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

ground-loving thrasher
                  stopping
           under the peach tree

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

high in the juniper
     mockingbirds
         practice

Lines

by Carl Mayfield

twilight
        caught
in the crow's throat

Full Moon: A Winter Sequence

by Carl Mayfield

clearing the ridge slowly--
     fir tree shadows
across the snow


edge of city--
     bare redbud branches
cradling the light


a few clouds
     passing
leaving brightness behind


towards daylight
     radiance touching
the cold horizon