Afternoon – Page 37

verdant fields of grass
freshly cut into windrows
drying in the sun
–
migrant bees-
tend the
grape arbor

a shattered windshield-
shards of broken promises
spread across the road
–
text messages-
driving past what
used to be a car

family outings
picnics paid for with the blood
of fallen soldiers
–
small flags-
dates carved
in cold granite

the wind at your face
sundress flowing out behind
tight against your breast
–
out favorite elm-
your hair spilled
across my chest

the wind on the dunes-
playful fingers turning the
pages of my book
–
wet towels-
bare feet
on my dash

in the line of fire
standing while the others fall
I am bulletproof
–
rising smoke-
the doe startled
bounds away

lace curtains drawn back-
shadows of tiger lilies
adorning my walls
–
breakfast for one-
fresh cut blooms
on the table

a cool ocean breeze
comes onshore and brings the taste
of salt to my lips
–
low tide-
footprints of gulls
in the wet sand

my head in your hands
your eyes locked on mine pushing
hard against my lips
–
ripe cherries-
the sweet taste
of your seduction

dark foreboding clouds
low in the afternoon sky
harbingers of doom
–
soft rain-
broken trees
and power lines