Afternoon – Page 46

most of my life spent
standing by the water’s edge
never getting wet
–
ashen skies-
in a barrel of rain
my reflection

tattered autumn lace
drifting in the morning air
lofted by the breeze
–
leaf litter-
tulip poplars
shed their skin

gentle drops of rain
fall from the trees to collect
on my upturned face
–
quiet water-
minnows surface
beneath my shadow

waiting for the sun-
sitting on a weathered dock
fishing rod in hand
–
fly fishing-
casting shadows
on the water

a single oak leaf
silently floats through the air
under azure skies
–
twelve again-
shuffling through
a pile of leaves

coastal bittersweet-
north winds blow the raging sea
against the breakers
–
highland cliffs-
amethyst heather
in bloom

hard conversations
and a tongue well versed in the
dialogue of death
–
cherry blossoms-
walking the garden
with just enough poison

floating alone on
an odd patch of flat water
in amidst the waves
–
open windows-
a raven shelters
from the storm

the fall of the year-
bare limbs of towering trees
reaching for the sun
–
sunrise-
amber leaves
on the water

an ocean of books
barely able to slake my
thirst for the unknown
–
gunmetal clouds-
stepping outside
into the deluge