Smoldering

Beneath the cold, white-gray ash
one more piece of
burning oak lies
hidden

remnants of lines
of woodflesh
old pathways
for water persist
burning orange
hot
not seen until
the ashes are stirred,
mixed, turned

unveiling
a smoldering
nugget
burning unchecked.

Listen for me

listen to the birds
repeated sing song melodies
In harmony with the
Moving clouds
Keeping time
to the overpowering rhythm
Of my heart beating
deepening as it envelopes
my thoughts

hearing the tempo
of together
under a sky darkening, filling
with cleansing waters
steam rising
from asphalt as my feet
follow a path
to your door

A Crossing

downward glance
upon glassy water
stopped, clear
green plants and murky brown chocolate
mud settled
a landscape of unmoving certainty

bottom so close
yet
concealing many feet
between solid ground
and the weightlessness of a perch
above the still water

stuck
motionless
walk this bridge
for once covering
this face
no distinction between rapids and
calm
faithless walk
the drowning will
commence

Windbreaker

Back from the forest
gray bark, shadowed paths
returned to the back door
slipping in unheard for just
a moment

now and then
at once
on the edge of seen

but unseen
awareness of wounds
and
weariness
impossible
improbable
unattempted

pulling off wet jacket
sodden and cold
rubbing numb fingers
waiting
dropping to the floor
lightly

she hears the thud
but only she
with open ears
wishful thoughts
can tell

It has fallen
to the linoleum
later
someone would wonder
why she'd left it
behind


an imprint unwanted
a reminder of
protection lost
proof of
unbidden
unease
a hidden
demise
wrapped in
unraveling fabric

Touched

gazing into your eyes
caught
dark pools reflected
my face
captured by your being
stopped
there before you
watching
you see
me

scared
of
diving
into the deep
of seeing
all of you
I looked away

Without you here

I long for
your eyes
touching mine.

A Caress

In the heat of the day
when the sun is almost unbearable
I want to reach out and
draw you under the shade of my tree

There the grass is cool
the water flows freely
All villainy is at bay
Dreams can dance among the leaves.

Beneath the branches all armor can be dropped
the cool breeze can spin between us
interweaving our thoughts
lifting our hopes to
spiral out into the sunlight.

Sweaty Release

Hot red,skin burns
after moving
sliding
gliding
popping

into place
moistening
filling
slick with
salt water relief
hot day, hard work
sensuous swivels
embrace
as two
wash each other
with converging
oceans of longing