Seasons – Page 121

washing and scrubbing
under this scalding water
still I can’t come clean
–
coal smoke-
a cardinal
on the snow

a pair of otters
dozing in the sun floating
far out in the bay
–
bleached driftwood-
iridescent sand
on the ebb tide

machine oiled blued steel
the weight of it heavier
than I expected
–
ice on the rocks-
another shot
added to my burden

living night to night
afraid of my own shadow
lest I feel the sun
–
crying gulls-
a distant sandbar
bakes in the sun

I still feel you here
disturbing the emptiness
well after you’re gone
–
thunderclouds-
hard rain off
the tin roof

the hand of Moira
pulling taught a strand of fate
prior to the cut
–
cloudless night-
death comes
on silent wings

gaping in the gloom
taking perverted pleasure
in bringing me down
–
pewter skies-
cold rain drips
off the rusted roof

as the sun descends
she draws the curtain of night
to unveil the moon
–
angry lovers-
the evening sun
sets the sky aflame

the battle scarred croc
slips into the black water
with hardly a trace
–
biting cold-
reaching for darkness
through the closing door

the scent of your hair
lingering on my pillow
greets me when I wake
–
freshly cut grass-
dandelion seeds
caught in your hair