Thursday, October 30, 2008

ALL HALLOWS EVE

























"Shaman" - petroglyph photo by S. Auberle

ANASAZI DREAMING
Alone in these canyons tonight
she hears horned owls
talking to the moon.
She is mourning old losses--
loved ones and friends
but only the Ancient Ones hear.
She dreams of them
spirit-bodied
in cold silver coins of light.
She wants to touch
those gentle faces
warm herself
at the ghost flames
of their pinyon-scented fires
for what is there
in this rough and precious world
that is as cold as the past?
- mimi
(same post as last Halloween, but I like it...)
off the blogwaves for a couple of weeks...
Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 24, 2008

TODAY IN THE ORCHARD


Photo by S. Auberle
Today in the orchard
there is a red tractor,
old wooden box
hitched on the sled behind.
It stands alone, waiting
among twisted trees
bent with harvest to the ground.
A woman walks the paths between,
her worn coat sky-blue
in the gray morning sunrise.
An apple-pouch weights her neck
and she stops to tuck dark strands
of hair beneath a turquoise scarf.
Her skin is the color of caramel,
warm as her southern home,
but in this place she sees
only clouds, low hanging and chill,
and her bright colors can't hold
enough remembered sky.
Thin arms reach toward it
as she climbs a ladder,
plucks apples, makes prayers,
maybe, and the unburdened trees
stand taller as she passes,
rain now shining the apples,
sewing the blue coat
to her trembling back.
- mimi

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

FROM MY MORNING WINDOW

















Photo by S. Auberle

"In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art."
- Rumi

Thursday, October 16, 2008

AUTUMN JOY


Photo by S. Auberle
six cranes
calling
at sunset
long-legged prayers
on the wing...
make a loud
and joyful noise!
- mimi

Sunday, October 12, 2008

DREAMSCAPE

























Digitally altered photo by S. Auberle

NIGHT POEM
Out in the dark
night birds are calling,
fishscale clouds
circle a half moon.
In their beds, young boys
toss restlessly,
their dreams hitched to stars
pulling the future in.
Too fast, too fast,
I murmur in my sleep,
dreaming of riding
a painted mare,
reins useless in my hands,
birdsong fading
under the cloud-circled moon.
- mimi

Saturday, October 11, 2008

FESTIVAL

























Photo by S. Auberle

one burning maple
outside my bedroom window
autumn festival
- mimi

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

HOW TO GET THROUGH THE DAY

Don't have a photo for this one, because I'm not at home, but here's another recipe/poem from a few years back:

HOW TO GET THROUGH THE DAY
WHEN YOU'RE TIRED OF LISTENING
TO POLITICS, WALL STREET & WAR TALES

First you notice the mellow afternoon,
with the oak glowing bronze
by your front door and one last bee,
drunk on October and fallen apples,
weaving down your window screen.
Then you might try
frying an onion and lots of garlic
in some olive oil.
While this fragrance is luring
all manner of creatures to your door,
you could puree two cans
of Caribbean-style black beans
with one half can of chicken broth,
then throw it all together,
along with the rest of the broth
to heat through. Add a dollop
of sour cream in each bowl and
serve with red wine, some olives,
a green salad with a hint of oil and vinegar,
and a fresh, crusty French baguette
that you must tear apart in the best spirit
of breaking bread--with an old lover,
or a friend who knew you when.
Alone is good too, with Bach
and a book of poetry.
Then indulge, enjoy, surrender
to the bee, the oak, the falling night,
surrender to this prelude of smoky light,
golden against evening shadows.

- mimi

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK AND HENRY!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

AUBERGINE


Photo by S. Auberle
When the first winds of autumn roll in I'm ready to cook. I love the fragrance of soups and stews filling my house. Today the sun plays hide and seek in the clouds between light rain showers. A large pot of soup simmers on my stove.
I walk down the road to a small farm where you never know what you'll find for sale. The little red barn by the side of the road, with its locked mailbox for depositing your money on the honor system usually contains some wonderful, fresh local produce. A few days ago it was the last of tiny sweet plums which, unfortunately, I'd missed till the last day. The farmer still had bags of luscious pears--$2 each bag, and pecks (how often do you hear that word?) of small apples, in many different varieties for $2.50. Baskets of the last, juicy tomatoes, $2 each and bonus...under a bold sign stating FREE, six gorgeous purple eggplants, or the more elegant name--aubergines.
I'm at a complete loss as to why these beautiful works of art should be free, I can only guess it's because most people don't care for them. Or maybe the farmer doesn't like them. I took three, saving the other three for another appreciative person and carried them back to my kitchen. They are now baking, in preparation for making a new dish--Melitzanosalata Agioritiki...Athenian Eggplant Salad.
First, of course, I had to photograph them and then I may paint them (from the photo) because they're just too beautiful not to. In case you're interested, here's the recipe:
1 large eggplant; 1 tomato seeded and chopped; 1 small onion, diced; 2 T chopped, fresh parsely; 2 T extra-virgin olive oil; 2 T red wine vinegar; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, salt to taste.
Pierce the eggplant a few times with a fork and bake on sheet in 350 degree oven for 1-1/2 hours, until eggplant is tender. Set aside till cool enough to handle. remove skin from eggplant and mash the pulp. Mix with all other ingredients and refrigerate for one hour. season to taste with salt. Serve as salad or with good bread, pita or crackers.
Bon Appetit!
- mimi