Distance – Page 15

days slowly passing-
the pain of every heartbeat
keeping me alive
–
raucous crows-
the carcass bears
silent witness

broken shower tiles
a bare bulb hangs from a chain
in my one room flat
–
after last call-
neon signs
light my way home

a cutting garden-
in the shade of a straw hat
she tends the flowers
–
up with the sun-
bent double
pulling weeds

sitting at the bar-
beautiful and dangerous
death in a red dress
–
mangrove trees-
crocodiles
come and go

among the rushes
herons stand in the salt marsh
waiting for the tide
–
auburn sunrise-
dawn breezes stir
fields of cattails

searching for reasons
why I blame everyone else
for my own failings
–
brooding skies-
trees reflected
in iron water

unexpected rain-
a brief but welcome respite
from the summer heat
–
clearing skies-
the gift of
a rainbow

on the veranda-
fog slowly climbs the steps on
this soft starless night
–
walking the moon-
a thin fog blankets
fallen gravestones

shadows of the moon
climbing down from the treetops
to hide from the sun
–
lakeside dawn-
eider ducks
begin to stir

through lavender clouds-
the cheeks of the sky blushing
with the coming dawn
–
encroaching dawn-
last night’s candles
turned to smoke