Age

on gossamer wings-
fate finds you leaving this vale
far before your time
–
endless night
dawn reaches out
her empty hand

wordlessly I watch
as with the greatest of care
you remove my heart
–
rising from the fog-
taking breaths
that are not my own

uncomfortable chairs-
the smell of antiseptic
I’ll never forget
–
sheets of rain-
footsteps echo off
glazed white tile

tongue already sharp
another shot of bourbon
hones the razors edge
–
rain slicked asphalt-
streetlights glare
in the gutter

as the grey moon sets
the young sun rises above
a new horizon
–
the church yard-
low night bells
toll the new year

approaching midnight-
hoping for the winds of change
to blow strong this year
–
fading daylight-
the future pinned
to our youth

dawn passes to dusk
giving rise to winter and
the fall of the year
–
on a cold wind-
another year gone
without notice

sitting on the stoop-
strangers walking past me with
judgment in their eyes
–
icy concrete steps-
wrought iron railings
rusted through

a day at the beach-
budding romance captured in
faded polaroids
–
sundown-
walking slowly
hand in hand

through endless farmland-
I suddenly see myself
in a passing train
–
ice tinged puddles-
a stranger lingers
in the water