Summer

clumps of garden weeds-
the summer sun warms my back
and eases my mind

a golden breeze-
the wind caught
in her hair

Autumn

a bite in the air-
nighthawks begin flying south
along the shoreline

orange moon-
the year’s work
ready for harvest

Lights

highway sedation-
numbed by the interplay of
streetlights and shadows

evening star-
a crow perched
atop a streetlight

Late

the party over-
blackened wicks smolder in the
citronella pots

constellations-
old friends and
old stories

Burden

down by the river
releasing slights collected
after all these years

on my back-
the weight of countless
grains of sand

Rain

her face to the sky
sundress plastered to her skin
at one with the rain

sandals in hand-
bare feet in
the wet grass

Forsaken

still she counts the ships-
her thick wool sweater stained red
with the setting sun

date night-
she sits at a table
set for one

Lakeside

an empty rowboat
tied down to a weathered dock
rocking in the swells

salt spray-
the old pier’s
bleached bones

Darkness

heavy evening air-
silhouettes of hunting bats
in the fading light

drawn curtains-
low clouds
full of malice

Evening

slowly fading coals-
the clink of empty bottles
being put to bed

indigo sky-
crickets singing
around the campfire