Distance – Page 12

autumn afternoon-
the sound of a cricket lost
amid the tall grass
–
rotting wood-
silent shadows
of the forest

cinnamon and sage
burgundy and chardonnay-
teasing the palate
–
daubed into
a hillside canvas-
autumn’s colors

emerging starlight-
walking past the coal stained homes
the old lamplighter
–
freshly cut grass-
rusted ice tongs
in the tool shed

waves crawl up the beach-
long acres of dune grasses
ripple in the breeze
–
prints in wet sand-
nesting plovers disturbed
by barking dogs

above the tree tops
set in the clear morning sky
a moon cast of ice
–
autumn morning-
windows glazed
with hoarfrost

rolling through the miles
cityscapes and farmer’s fields
pass by my window
–
morning commute-
the train’s shadow
among the trees

on a sun warmed lake
fog’s skeletal fingers reach
for the morning moon
–
barefoot children-
laughter coats
the evening grass

the cruel midday sun-
neat rows of old cars in their
final rusting place
–
high noon-
steam billows from
my open hood

clouds in the water
far on the opposite shore
the blue pump house roof
–
changing leaves
painted at the
waterline

early autumn storms-
dark roiling thunderclouds vent
their mottled fury
–
distant thunder-
a cloud of starlings
darken the sky