THIS DECEMBER DAWN

When this December dawn
gave off nostalgia's shadows
by the wood stove
the cat is in heat
I'm putting a Japanese film on
called "Dodes' ka-den"
by Akira Kurosawa
based on his dreams,
as a jazz poet trembles
at the white clouds seen
from his wet windowpane
with Northwest winds
covering the soft Bay breeze
as signals from the ocean
from the light house reveals
a pardon of the sands
in a sudden cooling commotion
it starts to rain
upon Autumn's yellow leaves
from the towering
Aspen poplar tree
covering the spacious lawn
as birch branches
expand near the rock garden
of once flowering juniper.