Night

withered autumn leaves-
not sure if he’ll live to see
another sunrise
–
desert stars-
hard and blue
in the moonlight

strange muted voices
filtered through thin hotel walls
keeping me awake
–
overcast-
alone again
far from home

the creak of hinges-
curtains drawn against the light
rising in the east
–
fading daylight-
the rustle of
leathery wings

well before sunrise
the clamor of rubbish bins
echoes in my sleep
–
venus rising-
masked bandits
steal my trash

damp and feverish-
a restful sleep eludes me
on this bed of coals
–
noonday sun-
ice in my glass
long turned to water

lying here in bed
unnbeknownst to you your trust
already betrayed
–
heavy fog-
your train leaves
without me

winter moths gather-
snowflakes lit by the street lamp
in the bitter night
–
gathering drifts-
ice crawls up
my window

the fire laid on while
winter in all its fury
rages at my door
–
grey skies-
cruel winter winds
howl at the moon

cloudless starlit skies-
a pale white moonbow appears
above the aspen
–
double rainbow-
a gracious gift
after the storm

at the forest’s edge
a guttering lantern hangs
from a shepherd’s crook
–
winter stars-
the warm glow
of a coach lamp