April 5, 2025

Adoring

    Adoring

    ― After Mary Oliver

    While out for a walk
    my dog likes to stop
    and smell the flowers.

    Oh I know dogs
    like to smell
    for other dogs.

    But she likes
    to have her wet nose
    touching the blooms.

    Like a bee
    moving from blossom
    to blossom.

    I have to wonder
    if she loves the flowers
    as much as I do.

Dan Hardison



March 29, 2025

Lady Moon

    Lady Moon

    As curtains are drawn on the day
    and nighttime descends all about,
    she graces us with her presence.

    A bit shy at first, she is hardly noticed,
    but in time she makes herself known,
    boldly coming forth for all to see.

    Through the night she watches over us
    casting her light with faint shadows
    until morning comes
        to usher her off to rest.

Dan Hardison


The Ravens Perch
October 2024


February 23, 2025

Longing

    Longing

    dormant
    skeletal trees
    and sleeping roots and bulbs
    all awaiting resurrection
    in spring

Dan Hardison


The Wise Owl
Daily Verse 2023


February 8, 2025

Yesterdays

    Yesterdays

    for CC

    The moment you appeared
    mouthy and sassy,
    full of feline eccentrics,
    you had won us over.

    You never gave any thought
    of adapting to our way of life –
    it is we who adapted
    to your ways.

    Now when arriving home,
    I still expect to see you
    sitting in the window waiting
    with an air of indifference.

    Little things that meant so much
    gone now never to be again.

Dan Hardison


The Ravens Perch
October 2024


February 1, 2025

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

    Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

    We think back on days past
      and still remember
        the less pleasant ones.

    We might wish we could go back
      and change the past
        to hand-picked yesterdays.

    But if we changed the past
      moments we cherish today
        might be lost.

    Better to choose our memories
      and live for a better
        tomorrow.


Dan Hardison


The Wise Owl
September 2024