Darkness – Page 47

hug your children tight
for tonight there are parents
who won’t get that chance
–
barren trees-
young branches
devoid of leaves

asleep on a bench
the hard rap of a nightstick
startles him awake
–
dark rain-
wet newspaper
her only refuge

surrounded by wealth
still dissatisfied with the
overabundance
–
winter rain-
runnels
overflowing

going to bed late
dreading the dawn for who knows
what the day may bring
–
blowing snow-
the coarse growl
of a passing train

walking on eggshells
at the door I stop and turn-
you’re watching me leave
–
predawn-
hard and cold
the bedroom floor

stallions in the sky
rearing out of boiling clouds
thunder through the night
–
late fall snow-
wild horses fade
into the woods

lighting up the sky-
the glow of paper lanterns
adrift in the night
–
evening stroll-
the dance
of fireflies

lighting up the sky-
the glow of paper lanterns
adrift in the night
–
evening stroll-
the dance
of fireflies

the wind plays a cat
unravelling skeins of snow
as I walk along
–
the wee hours-
between my legs
a sleeping cat

encroaching shadows
race to fill the void left by
the crumbling day
–
sleeping dogs-
the shade of
a dying elm