Henri

“New England Battens Down,” the Post reports,

For a rare cat-1 hurricane, Henri,

Heading for eastern Connecticut shores.

Actually

Connecticut, like Massachusetts, sleeps

Through this soft and silent Sunday morning.

Rockers and playpens on porches await

Mothers, babies, and dogs ready to play

Under the soft, sheltering Berkshires.

Volkswagen Beetles shelter under pines.

Trucks pull into the diner in Canaan.

Soft rain, silence, stillness, fog, ancient pines

Like berobed clergy smile on small children.

Flowers in the fullness of late summer grace planters

At the ends of long driveways full of cars.

Actually

Peace comes dropping from the veil of morning

And tufted titmice say, “Fill the feeder.”

When the sparrows arrive, the new day starts.

Thinking of Dad on his birthday.  Rest well, giant.