Stranded.
beach fizzed
with slapping waves,
the seaweed smells,the yells
inside the wind,the crowd
in gathered boats,the fight to save
all whales

Winter.
some men
must test the real
the naked monk,the snow
feeding the steam, the Zen
sitting in it,the hour to watch
his pain

Jogging.
last tree
still sunset red,
the birding cats,the swing
the child kicks high,the kite
above the park,the smell of meals
comes night

Forest.
with mists
come silent things,
the egg warm nests,the mould’s
slime of the leaves,the thrust
the mushrooms make,the sun on dawn’s
first hour

Rear-view.
don’t look
and yet you must
the smoking tyres,the calm
before the smash,the eyes
that stare you back,her pig-tail head’s
first jolt

Party.
she gives
slow watchful eyes,
the contained smile,the blink
that knows your touch,the hair
in falls to hide,the clues to some
past hurt

Night.
just now
the creaking roof,
the windowed rain, the winds
around the fire, our books
to pass the hours, the sound of her
first yawn

Attic.
suns fade
the childhood things
the gingham dress,the hat
that names the school,the sash
the swimmer won,the music sheets
from class

The panther.
fierce brained
the steel green eyes
the pacing gait,the cage
around the stench, the snarl
between the teeth,the loss of all
he knows

Eagle.
dull minds
these pigeon things,
just pecking seeds,the coos
inside the nests,the heads
they bob to walk,I King of skies
eat birds

Forever.
spring grows
just four green things,
the bursting buds,the grass
the sparrows peck,the moss
stains to old trees,the love of each
first kiss

Recalled.
in thoughts
the swaying swing,
the lighted porch,the smile
of the first kiss,the lives
we talked to share,her curls of hair
I smell