On a Bright Crisp November Morning in New York

Thousands of people died yesterday
Some died in their sleep
Some starved to death
Some were stillborn

Thousands of people died yesterday
Some drowned while swimming
Some let go after a long and protracted illness
Some were killed by exploding bombs

Thousands of people died yesterday
Some chose to take a fatal leap
Some died of gunshot wounds
Some perished when Flight 587
Fell from the sky shortly after takeoff
On a bright crisp November morning in New York

California Dreaming

The hills of golden dry grass
are like a lion’s coat
as they shimmer
in the warm breeze.

A lone craggy oak
stands watch on a hillside
whilst a vulture
soars gracefully
over head
against the deep blue
and cloudless sky.

For Yolanda

September 11, 2008


I was drawn to the quietude of Marin today.
When I received word of Yolanda having made her transition, I was in Mill Valley. I thought, ‘What better place to honor Yo’s soul than a peaceful walk on Mt. Tam.’

For Yolanda

The flutter of wings from a passing bird.
A bee whizzing by my ear.
The steady gaze of a lizard’s stare
frozen on a sun-baked trail.
The wind stops and a buzzing mosquito takes center stage.
The wind returns, and to my delight, the mosquito blows away.

The view from the western slope of Mt Tam is dreamlike today. The mountain’s golden grasses are bathed in afternoon sun. Below, a bank of fog partially cloaks the ocean. A bird’s eye view is offered revealing the glassy surf at Stinson. Nearby, Bolinas reaches out to the sea looking like the dorsal fin of a giant dolphin. In the foreground, evergreens rise with arms outstretched in praise of the sun.

As I sit overlooking this wonderland
I see... and hear... and feel...
Yolanda.
Now and always,

Love John

Goodnight

Goodnight
World at war
World at peace
World of wonder
World whirling through space
Goodnight

fog beast snake

city lights glow from beneath
the giant fog beast snake

the lazy beast lounges over
thousands of sleeping beings

over head a brilliant un full moon
looks down and out

through clear skies
at our magical world

Does the Tree Ask Why it Bends in the Wind?

Does the Tree Ask Why it Bends in the Wind?

Winter Storm , San Francisco 2010


Does the tree ask why it bends in the wind?

At the beach, many waves rise up,
vanishing as they crash into one another.

Towering thunder clouds promise to deliver their
load of water back to the earth.

Through a crack in the sky,
a flood of brilliant sunlight illuminates the sea.

I am a part of this give and take we call life.

Does the tree ask why it bends in the wind?

I inhale and exhale deeply,
feeling very blessed to be alive and well.


by John Steiner