Winter

Night takes a breath
covers me in velvet

a soothing shroud.

This room’s clothed
in memory,

echoes

a story told by
errant stranger.

I’m a stranger to
myself now

who I was before
lost forever.

The moment hovers
trembles a charm,

naked sky, hands
across an ocean:

the ocean is  ‘now’
&
always ‘time’ bickers.

Time lies,
it always lies.

I challenge
its power

to hurt me;
I walk with

whisper of wind
in trees, a sacred

secret language:

I’m still
dreaming

of the days

when we
were beautiful,

when summer
beckoned.

*

Now,

the cold comes
like a rent in

the canvas
of being:

it eats my bones,
reminds us all

reminds us all
we’re human,

the wind bites,
a rabid dog

intent on
destruction.

Here love’s
a small

bright flame
on this finite

journey while

Copper Beech
glistens

with the
rising moon,

night takes
a long slow

breath,

covers us
in velvet.