Turning Seasons
another cold December eveningi sit beside the lonely fire
given light and warmth and reason
a life cut short by blind desire,
smiling faces pass in embers
white smoke dots the purple sky
never showed my feelings for you
echoing words pound in my mind
left behind
like yesterday’s news
flick’ring dance falls into ashes
autumn’s log will feed the flames
shadows grow in cob-webbed corners
like all the words i tried to say,
late and dark, the chill eats inward
but i’m too tired to stoke the coals
feel your hand rest on my shoulder
with all the love i meant to show
now i know
you always knew
Great Lakes, Illinois ‘84