James Babbs- Three Poems

I’m Not a Painter

if I were a painter

and I painted a picture

of what I’m seeing

right at this moment

I’d have a canvas

full of blue skies

and empty fields

stretching for miles

in all directions

if I were a painter

and I painted this picture

and I showed it to other people

I’m certain

some would say it was sad

and others would call it beautiful

but what does it matter

because

I’m not a painter

and this is just a dream

Thinking About a Beautiful Woman

I’m thinking about a beautiful woman

it happens

when I’m sitting at the table

eating my breakfast

looking through the window and

the barren fields behind my house

naked trees full of squirrels’ nests and

I imagine her

slowly walking toward me

wearing her black coat and

bright pink gloves

her long hair exploding

all around her face and

falling over her shoulders

when she reaches the house

there’s the sound of my

quick intake of breath and

I wait for her to come inside

listening to the noises she makes

taking off her coat and

putting her boots down

next to the closet door and

I turn just in time

to see her entering the kitchen

the smile all over her face and

when she looks at me

I grin

the way she tells me hello

You Just Never Know

I just saw a robin

my first of the new year

on the first day of spring

at least

according to the calendar

gray clouds filling the sky

icy winds blowing

from out of the north and

later

there’s a chance of some snow

this morning

I should’ve worn

my winter coat and

I’m watching the poor robin

huddled next to the building

yesterday

it was sunny and

sixty-five degrees

but around here I guess

you just never know