Where there was once joy

And life and light and laughter

Now an empty hole

Crunchy edges yet

A soft and chewy centre

The perfect cookie

Rain and meltwater

Fall into the golden lake

Engulfed by the stream

Snow still laying low

On the shaded northern slopes

We’re all fugitives

If it doesn’t burn

And it doesn’t rot away

Then it’s here to stay

These ocean liners

Cross over each others wakes

Distant portholes wink

Crawl through the city

In the tireless pursuit of

Tail light waterfalls

Son rise breaks the dawn

Pretending I’m still asleep

Lethargic lead legs

In this stagnant pool

Change is blowing in the wind

I’m setting my sails

Soft snow still settles

While western winds whip wildly

Keep the fire burning

Knee deep in fresh snow

Daffodils waiting below

This time I’m alone

Replaying memories

To burn them into our minds

Leave the rest behind

Cold air sweeping in

We shelter in the fire light

Almost out of reach

Polystyrene balls

Swirl in eddies round my head

The east wind brings snow

With bars made of guilt

Locks of insecurity

A prison of words

A lonely log smokes

When adding a companion

They two are ablaze

Bulrushes shed seed

Floats above the frozen sedge

Like moulting cats tails

On wide eagle’s wings

I tried to carry you up

It’s not enough

Under sheets of dust

Tangled possessions await

The impossible

Under muddy fields

Curled up among sprawling roots

New lives are springing

I remember trees

Leaves, bees, keys, skis, ease, sea breeze

We see Pleiades

One sleepy eye ball

In a long unbroken gaze

Between life and dreams

Through long winter nights

Through cold and hunger and tears

I kept you alive

Low winter sunshine

Radiates through thin willows

A giant cobweb