the orchid in the bathroom
has two blossoms
one fat bud
and one tight nub of a bud.

the purple glass bowl on the kitchen table
holds five apricots.

the beautiful girl upstairs
is heading toward the end of her second year.

today
she was naked in her mother's arms
eating a plum
which dripped
all over her belly.

she offered me a bite.
again.
and again.

the cat is licking cherries
and picking them up
by the stems
with her teeth.

judith said
about yosemite:

wow! god is big rocks!
this is the place
where god is big rocks.

before the blossoms die
the petals
become transparent

fuzz in my toast
butter on my gloves

the amaryllis and i
are open

on the kitchen table
the amaryllis
sends from the heartbulb
a brilliant green stalk.

now, in the new year

rain falls
my heart is clean
blossoms
rise

toward the light.