Afternoon – Page 33

hallucinations-
my ephemeral partners
along for the ride
–
water lilies-
a pond dimpled
by dragonflies

clear azure waters
tropical sun overhead
melting my resolve
–
bronzed skin-
one more glass
of dutch courage

the burning red orb
casts its gaze about the land
hard and unblinking
–
ragweed-
my eyes swollen
and gritty

the ragtop put down
bare feet up on the dashboard
red hair in the wind
–
pacific coast highway-
california dreamin’
on the radio

a rippling sky
cast in all directions by
a child’s rubber boots
–
parting clouds-
blue jays bathe
in tiny ponds

her worn threadbare coat-
piles of bread crumbs spread between
the bird lady’s feet
–
a park bench-
sparrows land
on my shoulder

tiny ballet shoes-
waiting for the curtain in
crinoline and lace
–
sunday afternoon-
long hours
at the barre

the village emptied
bodies lay unburied with
no one left to mourn
–
tumbleweeds-
sun scoured bones
picked clean

moonlight in the trees-
silently a cold wind shifts
shadows on the snow
–
long shadows-
the warm wind
walks me home

white flecks of sea foam
spraying off the ocean waves
and the rising tide
–
onshore winds-
smell of salt
and the sea