Elemental – Page 4

a coyote’s howl-
I walk out of my own skin
and right into yours
–
afloat-
my body below
an anchor

high above the ground-
defying gravity while
wrapped in flowing silk
–
empty fairgrounds-
torn and faded canvas
flaps in the wind

sea foam in her hair
warmed by the tropical sun
caressed by the breeze
–
ocean breeze-
rum runners in the shade
of a date palm

borne out of the waves-
spun copper hair draped over
alabaster skin
–
first starlight-
the sharp bite of
an autumn eve

a cruel summer sun
the earth blistering beneath
her withering gaze
–
abandoned-
once fertile soil
becomes as dust

leafless and barren
bowed trees pledge their fealty
to the harsh north wind
–
november eve-
silver wind in
empty trees

woodsmoke in the air-
frozen rain falling on the
dry autumn leaves
–
coals set to bed-
the crackle of sleet
lingers in my ears

the cool below ground-
laying in the winter stores
before the first snow
–
late autumn morn-
a taste of last june’s
strawberry jam

an incoming storm-
thunderclouds vent their anger
on an iron sea
–
hard driving rain-
waves break against
barnacled pilings

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