Afternoon – Page 15

House

an overgrown lawn-
ravens nest in the eaves of
what was once a home
–
rotting lumber-
vines climb
though the floor

my blood in the sink-
I should be panicking but
I can’t feel the pain
–
tendrils of fog-
undisturbed by the hooves
of a pale horse

among the rushes
herons stand in the salt marsh
waiting for the tide
–
auburn sunrise-
dawn breezes stir
fields of cattails

searching for reasons
why I blame everyone else
for my own failings
–
brooding skies-
trees reflected
in iron water

a forest of ghosts-
cadavers stand sentinel
bleaching in the sun
–
echoes –
sunlight on
the forest floor

unexpected rain-
a brief but welcome respite
from the summer heat
–
clearing skies-
the gift of
a rainbow

passing rain showers-
steam rises from the asphalt
in the summer sun
–
soft patter-
august leaves
talk to the rain

sitting on the train
I look across the aisle and
see you as you were
–
hot city streets-
a stranger wears
my memories

a smiling buddha
round belly worn smooth by
hands of thousands
–
pagoda doors-
stone steps cut
in the hillside

in a copper bowl
beneath a blooming dogwood
a robin splashes
–
sudden showers-
a crow flies
through the rain