Art and poetry by member Claudia Kern

After a Wet Snow

Gray dawn light.
Outside my window 
the whole world is lace. 
Upon each stark 
twig, 
needle,
and
 branch,
white filigree.
Nothing is spared, 
not one bud.
If I were to go out,
Arms raised like the trees
Accumulating 
cold, sweet kisses,
I, too, would be 
delineated
By snow.


Chickadee

-6 degrees
Chickadee

One part heart
Three parts feather

How big is the spark
That beats in you 

And doing so
Warms us both?


Bear Dreaming

Great Ursus
He bear/she bear
I see you sleeping
In your earthy womb,
Warm breath
Still scented with acorns
And a few late fall berries,
Each moist exhale 
Icing you 
In silence.

Once, I dreamed you
Suckling cubs
And me.
The ancestors say
Such bear visions foretell
A shaman of great wisdom.
Oh Great Bear
in your winter sleep
Are you dreaming 
New wise elders into place?