Afternoon – Page 11

curling ocean waves-
the blackbird’s white feathered wings
touch an azure sky
–
glass dipped in frost-
a magpie taps
at my window

a stinging backhand-
the first truly cold fall day
greets me with malice
–
grey exhaust-
white plumes
of breath

sepia photos
memories of summerfields
slowly turn to dust
–
summer sky-
carousel music
on the pier

autumn afternoon-
the sound of a cricket lost
amid the tall grass
–
rotting wood-
silent shadows
of the forest

staccato drumming-
the evening rain disappears
into the night’s fog
–
scorched earth-
rain on the tin roof
far too late

cinnamon and sage
burgundy and chardonnay-
teasing the palate
–
daubed into
a hillside canvas-
autumn’s colors

emerging starlight-
walking past the coal stained homes
the old lamplighter
–
freshly cut grass-
rusted ice tongs
in the tool shed

river clay and dust
takes on a life of its own
much to my chagrin
–
pounding rain-
the stream a torrent
of mud and debris

waves crawl up the beach-
long acres of dune grasses
ripple in the breeze
–
prints in wet sand-
nesting plovers disturbed
by barking dogs

an inverted sky
the image of autumn clouds
broken by a fish
–
fall rain-
ripples spread across
a hidden pond