Darkness – Page 12

stripped down to the waist
sledgehammer and splitting maul
ringing in the sun
–
hazy starlight-
woodsmoke drifts
through the trees

an old shaking hand-
steady as it dips a brush
into the inkwell
–
autumn’s essence-
poems painted
on rice paper

a circle of flame
swirls deep inside the furnace
working overtime
–
rushing water-
the promise
of warmer feet

silvery fingers-
the moon I plucked from the sky
safe in my pocket
–
crescent moon-
silver fish swim
among the stars

rising car exhaust
lifted on the morning breeze
before dissolving
–
the waning sun-
at the curb
idling

grey evening clouds
gauzy and diaphanous
thinly veil the moon
–
a warm orange glow-
the harvest moon
buried in the clouds

smoke from the chimney-
a startled crack leaves embers
glowing on the hearth
–
whispers of smoke-
coals nestled in
among the ashes

incessant beeping-
cobwebs in my coffee cup
my head thick with sleep
–
gentle sunlight-
irish breakfast and
the sunday puzzle

wild racing thoughts-
my fix is the sleep I so
desperately crave
–
an open window-
coyotes call out
in the rising dawn

I can feel you breathe
swaddled in my dead embrace
my arms paralyzed
–
a twin bed-
your pajamas
against my skin