War

twisting in my sleep
I smell the blood and cordite
and lotus flowers

torrential rain-
countless lost
to take a hill

Vampire

the creak of hinges-
curtains drawn against the light
rising in the east

fading daylight-
the rustle of
leathery wings

Raccoons

well before sunrise
the clamor of rubbish bins
echoes in my sleep

venus rising-
masked bandits
steal my trash

Snow

the scent of rabbit
coaxes the fox from her den
and into the snow

late winter-
fresh snow
on the deadfall

Heat

damp and feverish-
a restful sleep eludes me
on this bed of coals

noonday sun-
ice in my glass
long turned to water

Rough

a pile of old clothes-
years of living on the street
etched deep in her face

dirty snow-
sleep arrives on
a cardboard box

Weather

a cold rain falling-
trying to stay warm with tales
of wine and whiskey

white mountains-
caribou freeze
at a cracking branch

Death

with a poisoned pen
I write stories in the blood
of the innocent

desert sagebrush-
rattlesnakes hidden
in plain sight

Chance

I catch your eye as
we pass each other by but
you’re out of my league

noonday sun-
lions stalking
in the tall grass

Under

the hours before dawn
I wake to your skin on mine 
under the duvet

winter’s breath-
maple leaves
under fresh snow