The broken shutter
swung ungainly askew
in a sad sag
thumping ugly
with an awkward thunkity-thunk
walloping
with a wind-driven wack-bang
and troubling
thud-thud bothersome bumping
splitting to splinter
the withered and splayed
dry-rotted
paint-flaked weather sill
buckling the loose-hinged
unevenly-hung
smashed and fragmented
sash
ripping the frayed
burnt-orange-framed
window screen
clean out
from its tenuously silicon-sealed
stainless steel seating
busted
battered
and torn
opening unobstructed access
and egress
for the threateningly massed
and ominously subtle
ear-piercing
high-pitched
whiningly whirry-like
buzzing
mosquito swarm
Down to darkness I descend
as the hand of grief extends
horror called me to this door
words of sorrow stain my lips
slip through my fingertips
scatter ‘cross the cellar floor
the black depth hides my tears
I am haunted — filled with fears
my spirit broken evermore
dark waves of misery
are rising like the sea
I am stranded on the shore
I am lost — I am alone
confusion grips me to the bone
terror chills me to my core
something wails my name
I have finally gone insane
it is the end for me I’m sure
is this really what it seems
or has this all been just a dream
but again I hear the roar
I pray I’ve been asleep
in a dream-state dark and deep
please — let my eyes soon open
let this nightmare spell be broken
and a new sun rise once more
if not — god’s mercy I implore
The murder of crows
rain from the skies
swarm the earth
caw and crowd wildly
a chaos of cacophony
a frenzy of undulating black
tearing at a shadowed heap
drawing more closely
I see the object
of their mania
a body
a lifeless body
my body!
my eyes jerk open
waking with a start
shuddering a fevered sweat
I’m tight
in this nightmare’s grip
no alarm
need bid me awaken
this day
a fumbling for the lamp
follows moments of confusion
sitting upright
I slow my breathing
wipe dry my brow
then
throwing my leges
over the edge of my bed
I stumble my feet
into my slippers
and slowly rise
from the soak of my mattress
still shaking slightly
I tug on my robe
amble to the kitchen
take a cup from the shelf
and pour chamomile tea
it’s brewed ready each morning
by the wonders of technology
retreating to my office
to my chair
where it waits
welcoming
in a pool of soft light
buffering the pre-dawn dark
I sit
sip my steeped motivation
quietly peeling away fog
that lingers still
clouding my mind
residue of this fitful night
somber
I’m pleased to be awake
to be alive
grateful for the peace
for the deep quiet
of early morning
finally
my thoughts
begin to un-blend
to gather
slowly they sort
in colors of my dark mood
melancholy greys
fear’s dark ebony
the purples of pain
blood red of anger
the violet of regret
and sorrowful blues
it’s an incomplete spectrum
stirred by this morning’s
reflections on death
on my mortality
recently threatened twice
by my failing heart
then under the surgeon’s knife
these bleak colors
shoulder in coldly
crowding my reverie
pondering my plight
cursing this recurring fate
I struggle
‘neath the weight of my uncertainty
of my heavy insecurity
a riot of emotions
overcome me
crowding in
like this morning’s madness
of the imagined murder of crows
I seek clarity
I reach for my laptop
my escape
my refuge of resolution
my canvass of language
I slowly lay fingers
on keyboard
in the spreading saffrons
and corals of dawn
I begin painting
deep indigo
At last fair summer soon arrives, just in time to resuscitate my sense of humor. The winter rains still stubbornly linger. But soon the sky will remain sunny and clear, as will my lifting mood, stirring summer dreams in the golden warmth. I celebrate this season of plenty.
The seeds push sprouts through the rich warm earth, as nature cycles to this time of birth. New buds pop forth through ready limbs. Mountain streams run fast and clear as nature’s curtain lifts on this magical time of year — as the veil lifts on my sweet recall.
Bird songs will echo through the greening trees to serenade my reverie. The heady fragrance of summer will carry on the gentle breeze, as the bold hues and rich sounds of this beautiful boisterous season fill my soul to bursting! Rockin’ my Adirondack — joyous is my heartsong!
green leaf on blue pond
turns in golden summer sun
red bird softly sings
