Two More December Octets

saturday inventory octet #1

second cup of coffee, the microwave’s hum;

on the counter, a full bag of mandarins—

small jar of Tiger Balm, camphor & menthol

rubbed on a balky back; a cough that won’t shake

despite weeks of slippery elm tea; pale sun

east behind unsettled clouds, double strikethrough

of power lines—white hoodie, black jacket tossed

across an arm chair, waiting for what comes next

◦           ◦            ◦

multnomah st octet #2

from Holladay Park’s high maples, crows’ rhythmic

conversation accents a MAX train’s eastbound

clatter—a walk through air permeated with

chilled infinitesimal water, breathing out

through pursed lips—sun’s semi-circular halo

burned on nimbus overcast; on the pavement

crabapples gone black: deep in a puddle one

hornbeam emerges under a floating leaf

Jack Hayes

© 2016

12/3/16