Soft and sharp
Lavender petals fall
On broken glass
So is the acceptance
Of our sad reckoning
Embraced in tears
Soft and sharp
Lavender petals fall
On broken glass
So is the acceptance
Of our sad reckoning
Embraced in tears
Dawn already
Come and gone
First sun reflects
From wintry throne
Beneath the glow
Of cloudless sky
I hold my grief
In chill repose
The magic light
Has challenged woes
Soon comes the smile
Upon the sigh
On a crisp December day
Atop an inverted sky
Snowy clouds
Blown across the ice
Thighs itch
From penetrating chill
A wan sun
Does nothing to warm
A few moments here
To record the scene
Then retreat
To the warmth
Of electric fire
A sugary cup
Of cocoa
And family
I come for the storms
To be confronted
By nature
At her extremes
To remind myself
Of things much more
Than my self
In my calm lagoon
Of self import
I am touched
By what others
Might call God
Though I admit
To no more knowledge
Than such is divine
With I
In my little i
Of the storm
That is existence
He was there
Then not
All in the space
Of a few final breaths
Now a ghost
Whose laugh is lost
But to memory
And longing
Gone twenty five years
In this time of cheer
And on this day
Am I reminded
A twinkle in the eye
Said more
Than words, sometimes said
Had ever said
I love you, son
I set down the words
But do not own their meaning
Any more than I control the wind
The sun
Or the rain
I release them
Into the world
Let the prevailing winds
Take them where they may
Perhaps to find the meaning
They have for you
Dawn comes softly
In pastels
With a light wind
I breathe in the moment
Then hold on
To what I don’t want to let go
This peace
This sanctuary
This moving on
A quiet
I have not allowed myself
To experience
In a long time
Time
In my body
Letting the world be
Just as it is
Beautiful
And dark
Tranquil
And distressed
But just for this moment
Beautiful
And tranquil
That is enough
For the dawn
Dawn breaks in pastels
Scattered city lights
Which had powered night
Fade with encroaching day
Soon enough extinguished
While the trail
Marking my departure
Rises from the darkness
Now a frothy white
Upon grey slate
Receding mountains’ majesty
Diminishes with steady progress
In some few hours to be lost
Behind the moon-swelled sea
Held fast by Earth’s own gravity
So go I
Beyond the realm
Of all I know
To places
I’ve not yet loved
The waves they roll
With languid reach
Well up on
The shallow beach
While out to sea
They roil and pitch
To salt the air
With fragrance rich
With mem’ries dear
From childhood clear
When castles rose
Above the sand
And mother’s arms
With gentle grace
Wrapped me in
Her warming brace
Just as this ripple
Ends its leisured pace
Around my shoes
With wet embrace