Murder

a roadside vigil-
flowers for a young man turned
forever nineteen

sudden silence-
shell casings
in the grass

Danger

beauty and danger
your small delicate flower
surrounded by thorns

clearing haze-
following the trail
of blood diamonds

Clarity

the magic kingdom-
selling scraps of happiness
at a fat profit

finally awake-
finding nothing
behind the curtain

Precious

your silver hammer
softly tapping cracks into
my porcelain heart

soft breathing-
your hair gold
in the sunlight

Whispers

echoes in the walls-
this unfurnished apartment
hiding its secrets

harvest moon-
cool wind
in the corn field

Ruin

the front door ajar-
shards of glass litter the hall
of my ruined home

crows take wing –
a fir crashes
to the forest floor

Time

late into the night-
pouring over lesson plans
and student papers

a clenched fist-
time still runs
through my fingers

Clouds

the afternoon sky-
dark shadows of contrails paint
the white clouds bellow

early morning-
my head and office
above the clouds

Marsh

wings skim the lake as
a great blue heron takes flight
in the predawn mist

the rising sun-
hidden amid
the cattails

Rain

in the driving rain-
train doors close as a blue suit
runs past my window

dripping leaves-
rippled shadows
in clear water