September 2019 – Page 3

an empty basket-
warm sunlight on this week’s wash
snapping on the line
–
old bones-
family secrets
in the closet

barely keeping still-
my fingers brushing across
your wet ruby lips
–
waves lap the shore-
your hair drying in
the tropical sun

early autumn leaves-
I should have asked you to dance
the first time we met
–
sidewalk bistro-
I glanced at my phone
and you were gone

days slowly passing-
the pain of every heartbeat
keeping me alive
–
raucous crows-
the carcass bears
silent witness

midsummer morning-
a pair of cardinals perch
in the zebra grass
–
fields of mist-
a robin’s nest
full of shadows

a spreading elm tree-
leathered fingers deftly weed
the cutting garden
–
flooded fields-
years of harvests
in her hands

rains of twilight passed-
crickets outside my window
singing me to sleep
–
tv static-
the low hum
of a ceiling fan

broken shower tiles
a bare bulb hangs from a chain
in my one room flat
–
after last call-
neon signs
light my way home

a bottlebrush tail
the cat readies to pounce on
the bat by my door
–
cans clatter-
small marauders
stalk the alleyway

under the night sky
conversation and laughter
as the fire dies down
–
starlight-
good friends and
wine loosened tongues