Age

honeysuckle wine-
content letting the front porch
host my slow decline
–
passing cars-
an afghan shrouds
her empty rocker

a day at the beach-
budding romance captured in
faded polaroids
–
sundown-
walking slowly
hand in hand

another sunset-
the lives I’ve lived and died in
hopes of meeting you
–
falling snow-
the guttering flame
turns to smoke

as day turns to night
the sun gives her dying light
to the mountain tops
–
mountain peaks-
aging temples
streaked with snow

slowly settled in
every movement painful with
these old weary bones
–
well worn stones-
shore water’s
ebb and flow

a rusting iron gate-
beyond the overgrown path
crumbling headstones
–
bristlecone pines-
deeply rooted
to the earth

living with strangers-
years torn from my memory
replayed day by day
–
dimming light-
a quiet place
to lay my head

A young man’s eyes see
The lined face and greying hair
Looking back at me