Mastodawn

three people
lost in their own worlds
on the same bench
facing the ocean
staring at paperbacks

two young women
sitting on a bench
joyfully painting
watercolours
in the rain

moving stealthily
between shadows and light
black-tailed deer
playing night games
with the motion sensor

with the rain gone
sun hangs low in the sky
unfurled umbrella
blocks the rays
and the scenery

Octogenarian
low-rider bicycle
banana seat
high handlebars
Cheshire cat smile

this labyrinthine trail
sleek webs of silken threads
each laid and pulled
by motley fools
at minotaurs' behest

= vespers of brief mortality =

tomorrow always waits
yesterday laments our swift departure
today is
but a brief encounter
lost in swirling steam

be war e

frosty old geezer
still sleeping around
with your pale children
in cold poppy fields

the silver years they spin
on lathes of heaven
so many slim saplings
they turned
to thin momentos

= swamp surfing =

one
small step
for a felon
a giant leap
for unkind