Penance

mired in the past
endlessly forced to repeat
the sins of my youth

born of fire-
ashes rise
into the night

Leaves

a single oak leaf
silently floats through the air
under azure skies

twelve again-
shuffling through
a pile of leaves

Sound

in silent anguish
the mute reach out for justice
their voices stolen

discordant music-
in the apple tree
a starling

Sunlight

sensing acceptace
evil walks in the daylight
no longer afraid

sunlight-
insects scatter
from prying eyes

Reckoning

staring at myself-
the bottom of a shot glass
looking back at me

oasis-
an empty carcass
in the sand

Cancer

hard conversations
and a tongue well versed in the
dialogue of death

cherry blossoms-
walking the garden
with just enough poison

Battle

curling up in pain
the taste of salt on my lips
from licking my wounds

echoes-
broken antlers on
the forest floor

Transformation

staring at myself
I see that I have become
what I feared the most

predawn-
coming awake
in a stranger’s mind

Lost

years of wasted time
of opportunities lost
and then you were gone

ancient water-
black scales sink
beneath the surface

Regret

every single day
regrettable decisions
I can’t seem to stop

waiting in vain-
a puddle
of streetlight