Afternoon – Page 14

softly falling rain-
wandering through the graveyard
in the dead of night
–
overcast-
reading the details
of those long dead

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

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 cutting garden-
in the shade of a straw hat
she tends the flowers
–
up with the sun-
bent double
pulling weeds

sitting at the bar-
beautiful and dangerous
death in a red dress
–
mangrove trees-
crocodiles
come and go