Lost

a single oak leaf
silently floats through the air
under azure skies
–
twelve again-
shuffling through
a pile of leaves

in silent anguish
the mute reach out for justice
their voices stolen
–
discordant music-
in the apple tree
a starling

staring at myself-
the bottom of a shot glass
looking back at me
–
oasis-
an empty carcass
in the sand

hard conversations
and a tongue well versed in the
dialogue of death
–
cherry blossoms-
walking the garden
with just enough poison

staring unfocused-
bloodshot sky barely noticed
through these bleary eyes
–
cottonmouth-
a morning dove
splits my skull

curling up in pain
the taste of salt on my lips
from licking my wounds
–
echoes-
broken antlers on
the forest floor

staring at myself
I see that I have become
what I feared the most
–
predawn-
coming awake
in a stranger’s mind

years of wasted time
of opportunities lost
and then you were gone
–
ancient water-
black scales sink
beneath the surface

every single day
regrettable decisions
I can’t seem to stop
–
waiting in vain-
a puddle
of streetlight

driving down the road
catching a glimpse of my wife
in the passing train.
–
flat water-
migrating geese
pass overhead