Afternoon – Page 30

an autumn sunset-
the shadow of a goshawk
long on the meadow
–
oak leaves-
slipping below
a covered bridge

the living desert-
waves carried across the sand
by wind on the dunes
–
tumbleweeds-
a mindless expanse
of lifeless sand

brown rivers swollen-
remnants of our prior lives
piled up in the streets
–
autumn sun-
in my living room
the black waterline

a placid trout stream-
three old fishermen stand casting
amid the lilies
–
light rain-
three koi hide
under the bridge

sunday afternoon
on the line the week’s washing
left out in the rain
–
empty bottles-
even the baby
has stopped crying

rumbling through the dark
long trains roll westbound under
thunder and lightning
–
drying hay-
the countryside
glides past

beauty and danger
your small delicate flower
surrounded by thorns
–
clearing haze-
following the trail
of blood diamonds

echoes in the walls-
this unfurnished apartment
hiding its secrets
–
harvest moon-
cool wind
in the corn field

the front door ajar-
shards of glass litter the hall
of my ruined home
–
crows take wing –
a fir crashes
to the forest floor

the afternoon sky-
dark shadows of contrails paint
the white clouds bellow
–
early morning-
my head and office
above the clouds