Distance

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

shadows of chimneys
painted on the rising smoke
by the setting sun-
–
curls of smoke-
your lipstick on
my cigarette

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

your face in the glass
its hard to believe were just
an ocean apart
–
cold winds-
across the table
a sideways glance

bored eyes unfocused
staring out the car window
the guardrail floating
–
migrating geese-
an endless river
of taillights

the river of time
flows past this open window
and into my past
–
distant clouds-
a riverbed
of broken earth

starless winter skies-
ebon velvet overhead
diamond dust below
–
curls of silver-
the night sky pierced
by the moon

curling photographs-
remnants of an age gone by
taped to my mirror
–
sepia trees-
winter morning’s
gentle light