Mixing black and white

Hands jump and fingers wiggle

To a wordless tune

Flickering snake tongues

Licking at gnarled wounds like salt

Kindling old flames

From my crow’s nest peak

Rows of houses all the same

Follow the money

Wrapped up in darkness

Seeds of doubt germinating

Waiting for the dawn

Hanging from dark clouds

High pressure raining downpours

We are washed away

Summer flowers float

Slowly downstream to the sea

Can you capture me?

In the dark silence

Of the words that went unsaid

Cut loose drifting lost

Brown butterfly wings 

Dry and frail like pressed flowers

Such beauty in death

An ancient tortoise

Slowly lumbering southward

Yet always at home 

As the river flows

So each day slips quickly by

Never to return

Stack up fresh cut cords

Against the cold winter months

Tea warms my rough hands

Flames curl around limbs

Devouring all my rings

Every joyous spring

If I ever go

Back to those deep dark green woods

I will find my home

The fresh Autumn air

Rolls the seasons on again

How many more left?

Ancient melodies

Penetrate my very bones

We are not alone

New willows stand tall

In the strength of summer rain

Is it time for school?

Tireless worker ants

With what are you so busy?

While the years roll on

Clouds of blackbirds flock

Brambles choke the apple tree

Bake them in a pie

Steady rain sets in

Another year is falling

I grow ever old

Wherever I roam

The grass is always greener

Moving on again

Dark green conifers

Still standing on these mountains

Before and after

Creeping through sand dunes

Bears and wolves prowl silently

Well exacted fear

Abandoned sandals

Wait on the fence for their partner

Hanging like lost souls 

Leaping out headlong

And falling head over heels

Into shifting sand