Afternoon – Page 24

evening in the woods-
footfalls in the the underbrush
betray my silence
–
a park bench-
convincing a crow
to let me sit

late afternoon sun-
snow fades to grass as winter
draws to a close
–
red feathers-
in the snow
a purple crocus

softly melting snow-
the trumpets of returning
canadian geese
–
the ides of march-
a robin graces
my dogwood tree

an empty barstool-
I decide to take a risk
on conversation
–
empty glasses-
my napkin
torn to shreds

a golden buddha
in quiet contemplation
half buried in snow
–
gentle snow-
singing bowls
fall silent

crimson fingernails
lightly drawn along my skin
leaving ghostly trails
–
rain streaked windows-
we agree
on safe words

twisting in my sleep
I smell the blood and cordite
and lotus flowers
–
torrential rain-
countless lost
to take a hill

late autumn sun-
rising waters crack the ice
from an early freeze
–
a white canvass-
fresh gesso broken by
crocus blossoms

brutal onshore winds-
a nor’easter whips the sea
as waves pound the beach
–
my collar up-
a man chases
his hat

blowing on my tea-
before dawn the feral wind
roars in frustration
–
walking my dog-
the wind nips
at my heels