Fog

a hillside cottage-
the morning sun clears the clouds
asleep on the roof
–
first starlight-
fog creeps in
from the underbrush

early morning moon-
fog nestles in the valleys
and clings to the leaves
–
moonrise-
gravestones hidden
in the mist

on the veranda-
fog slowly climbs the steps on
this soft starless night
–
walking the moon-
a thin fog blankets
fallen gravestones

snow on the gravestones-
the caretaker’s lantern swings
haloed in the fog
–
moonlit snow-
fog sprawls
across the road

sand hill cranes glide through
frost smoke on a mountain lake
as the day begins
–
coming ashore-
fog blankets
the lighthouse

as the fog rolls in
skeletons of spectral trees
fade into the night
–
foggy evening-
gnarled branches
scratch at my window

evergreen hillsides
barely clothed in morning mist
slowly disrobing
–
splitting wood-
the morning haze
burns away