still, among reeds — a tiny poem

the windy rattle at the edge of the cliff

a breath, a city I’m leaving

the dried husks of remembered summers

bonfires we had

the dogs running silently beside us

I wanted it to be everything

as if everything was everything

~

it gets too cold

when it gets this lonely

and only the wind caresses my face

~

you were brashbright tan

curved muscles in a hat

leading

I was following

~

I got too sad this autumn

thinking about ghosts

our summerselves now past

remorse bitter in the cliff’s winds

a family I wanted

we never had

the moon rolls over the landscape in a shroud

there are ashes I have to toss

each handful another closing chapter

~