i find myself outside   standing

on the flagstones

or sparse grass of our little backyard

sometimes sorting stars

other times for no apparent reason at all

interior spaces have a way of unsettling my thoughts

four walls do close in

here   in our neighborhood

there are no markets and shops to haunt

no city park paths on which to run

no rows of vines   no patio 

with the long view

so i find myself here   outside   on the flagstones

or sparse grass of our little backyard

sometimes sorting stars . . .