Tag Archives: nature poetry

Sharing Art and Connection

I love the way artists inspire one another. It can be really friendly! Yesterday, I got an email from Will, a friend – through – another -friend who came to a reading in July. This picture of him is from one of my favorite spots, our local heart rock wall. I’ve written about this magicalContinue reading “Sharing Art and Connection”

Eurypterus Remipes

This year, the following poem won 2nd place in the New York State Fair Poetry Contest! It was a joy to go there and read it aloud, along with other contest winners. My inner 8-year-old was thrilled to learn that there was such a thing as a State Fossil. And then when I saw whatContinue reading “Eurypterus Remipes”

When Roe Fell

On a Friday of heartbreakone of the neighborhood vixenshelped herself to cherriesdropped on the groundby our backyard treenosing nonchalantlyfor a hospitable half hourno question to her freedomsjust an omnivorewith no dilemmaonly juicy bursts of sourand gentle pink lightthrough tree branchesat the end of a better dayin the history of foxesthan of humans. Stacey Murphy, 6/24/2022

Matsukaze

Matsukaze                 meaning: pine in the wind (Japanese) I came upon themIn the clearing –An old woman in a puffy coatAnd bright pink hatSurrounded by hemlocks and oaksAnd the swaying stopped my steps. “Matsukaze” she breathed, eyes closed,Arms stretched upAs she stood arms out,Fingers splayed to December airAnd leaned,Just a little,This way then thatLike theContinue reading “Matsukaze”

Late November Hope

My shoes celebrate the forest floorweeks ago they crunched the leaves on this pathloud and delectablehomemade potato chips for the feetand today the frozen mud, like clayyielding in its satisfying wayas I move through these trees againasking in each seasonwhether strangers who know your secretsare really strangers at all? The hemlocks know what I wonderasContinue reading “Late November Hope”

Leaves Let Go

It is not the way of leaves to care about how they fall. It doesn’t matter whether there are heavy, thunder-filled clouds overhead or miles of bright blue and sunshine. A leaf doesn’t cry out in pain if a harsh wind tugs it from its twig nor does it giggle with mischief if it managesContinue reading “Leaves Let Go”

Fledglings

A brown cardinal babynestled in the crookof our back porch trumpet vineinvisible until her big red dad returnedagain and againbearing grubs to nourishand maybe sootheafter her important launch. Later in Targeta mom scouring aislesher own fledgling just new in a dormthe store shelvesbare of what she really sought:Comfort. Love.Courage for a newly flown almost-manHis deepeningContinue reading “Fledglings”

For Solstice 2021

I tried an experiment today. I wrote six short stream-of-consciousness type poems as the day went on. The first two were written yesterday, but the second one got rewrote a bit, and then today, others came and went – and the last one was done during a thunderstorm. It was fun to play with tryingContinue reading “For Solstice 2021”

Book Love!

What’s really fun? When your people let you know that they’ve received their copies of your new book! These little surprise posts have been popping up on my Facebook feed all month, and I am humbled by and grateful for the reminders of all the kind people I have in my life. These images areContinue reading “Book Love!”