Autumn’s sun leaves early
Blanketing the afternoon
While the bird songs slow
As if through snow
The magpie afar
And the last butterfly
Of the season.
A little pink rose blooms
After the morning dew;
Shaded by the yard’s fence
The pot moves to the sun
Closer on the courtyard.
Thick clouds may wander yet
And shade the sun, the plans;
Change the way things happen.
It’s a beautiful day
And after all the rains
To feel the sun’s heat warm
Tender filaments
Petals delicate
And dreams of the heart;
Other plants shade others
But we respect tall trees
Living through the ages.
Is it no wonder
When we look to the sky
We saw gods.
People in a blink forgotten;
A colour, style or a face
Lingers a little longer; gone
Again, I feel lonelier here
So close to conversations; words
Do not reflect the loneliness
But intensify it; echo
As they leave the table beside me
And now I hear more distant talk;
A song plays on the radio,
Light, acoustic, afternoon tune;
For an early Sunday, past noon
And I am overwhelmed by grief;
Suppressed for the business ahead
Buses pull up; prepay only
Passengers ignore the sign, stuck
As does the bus driver, nodding.
Coffees, teas, chai lattes and juice
Sit on tables, customer’s chairs.
I am nervous; and excited
I am certainly me sitting
But I am lost; this big city;
I have to assert me, myself
In this stream of collective we.