Elemental – Page 6

Browning

a copse of willows-
long verdant tresses brunette
in the evening light
–
prolonged drought-
green pastures
turn to dust

a great streak of fire
across the afternoon sky-
shattered panes of glass
–
the small hours-
lawn chairs and
shooting stars

as day turns to night

the sun gives her dying light

to the mountain tops

–

mountain peaks-

aging temples

streaked with snow

the bathroom mirror-

a message written in steam

appears in your hand

–

starlit noon-

steam pours

from off the rocks

the scent of your hair

lingering on my pillow

greets me with the dawn

–

daybreak-

my arm draped around

your missing waist

wind rustles the leaves
and coaxes a dryad’s song
of spring from the trees
–
whispers-
forest giants
shake off the cold

a soul deeply flawed
ichorous and fetid cast
from a broken mold
–
bathing rituals-
filing ewers by
the riverbanks

northern white cedars-
the cliff face of ragged stone
falling to the sea
–
out of the fog-
a grand tower
of sun bleached stone

puppets to a one-
dancing to unheard music
hung from tangled threads
–
skeletal fingers-
pulling taut
the threads of fate

around my ankle
an invisible red thread
that binds me to you
–
a cardinal-
in the holly his mate
awaits his return