3 Poems by Joan McNerney

Last Autumn

A flying carpet of
sugar maple leaves
unfurls along my road.

Just enough light to glimpse
silhouettes of yellow trees
against the dove grey sky.

Tenacious…one ragged
leaf clings to the bough.

Stopping to see the
shape of a snowflake.

After evening showers,
a garden of bright meteors
blossoms.

Amazing how many stars
fit inside my windowpane.

 
I Believe in Trees

Those silent citadels
standing against long
nights of wind and cold.

Broken willow bramble
scratches a pale sky after
yesterday’s ice storm.

Each spring small buds
blossom as bugs and
butterflies orbit boughs.

Green new leaf fits
your hand so perfectly.
The future lies in your palm.

Birds reciting litany in woods.
Each rainfall the forest
grows taller, more verdant.

Summer afternoons…trees
sashay in sunshine showing
off their emerald gowns.

Winds sway maple branches.
Leaves drop like butterflies
falling to the warm earth.

Red yellow brown carpets
of crunchy foliage spread
over roads welcoming us.


That long afternoon

The air became heavy wiping
willows along skyline.
Blue jays sped to bushes
startled by thunder.

Rain drops linger on face
cascading arms
falling from fingers.
Lying on lips now
precious cool.

We listen to rain
caress marigolds.
Circles of water
spreading wider wider
laden with moist
smells of summer.

Rain walks over
side streets pelting
metal roofs in
slippery symphonies.
We hide under cover
our bodies as damp
as silver willows.

Bionote

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Camel Saloon Books on Blog, Blueline, Vine Leaves, Spectrum, three Bright Spring Press Anthologies and several Kind of A Hurricane Publications.  She has been nominated three times for Best of the Net. Four of her books have been published by fine literary presses.  She has recited her work at the National Arts Club, New York City, State University of New York, Oneonta, McNay Art Institute, San Antonio and other distinguished venues.  A recent reading was sponsored by the American Academy of Poetry.  Her latest title is Having Lunch with the Sky, A.P.D. Press, Albany, New York.