Fire

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

a circle of flame
swirls deep inside the furnace
working overtime
–
rushing water-
the promise
of warmer feet

smoke from the chimney-
a startled crack leaves embers
glowing on the hearth
–
whispers of smoke-
coals nestled in
among the ashes

the cruel midday sun-
neat rows of old cars in their
final rusting place
–
high noon-
steam billows from
my open hood

our long entrance hall-
the empty peg on the wall
where your coat once hung
–
distant smoke-
years of farmland
turned to ash

pale silver moonlight
captured in the broken glass
strewn across the street
–
autum eve-
crickets silenced
by shattering glass

grey dying embers-
on rising smoke the campfire
draws its final breath
–
evening dew-
cooling ashes and
echoes of laughter

a stone foundation
the remnants of a sawmill
lost to the forest
–
after the fire-
the chimney casts
a long shadow

barely keeping still-
my fingers brushing across
your wet ruby lips
–
waves lap the shore-
your hair drying in
the tropical sun

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