Poetry over 3 years

Skinning a salmon

Colourful leaps!

glistening, burning flesh

shimmering across the walls,

it could have grown a glass eye here.

Smooth and sinuous under my nail,

from my hands scales fall,

a fish’s ashes.

I pay no respects

slide the blade across

and separate.

-July 2020

a winter skyscape, with trees

a crunchy-looking evergreen

glitters beyond the buttery sun

melting onto dense white halls,

an angel’s resting place

my breath melds with the clouds

together we drift silently

our shadows over the hills

punctuated by the early sunset

-November 2019

courage

everyone's bouquets wilt a little today.

my stranger was slipped a note

dutifully bundled and hand-delivered

to the opposite side of the hallway

-February 2018

Oppression

Hard heavy hands lift

A steady worrisome heart

Breathing the ocean

-January 2017

Moon

It darts past the sharp edges from my bookshelf to windowsill,

Throwing jagged shapes of light

reflected by evening clouds

Into my dim grey room.

I could never stare at it too long

It is the sun of the evening to me

Its eerie white glow naturally more magnificent

Than the blocks of light coming from the city,

Rendering me sleepless.

-April 2017

a day of soggy tea leaves
lying on the ground
a cup of untouched mint tea
oxidizing from ochre to black

I put on a coat
stretch out on the balcony,
and wait for the mist

-December 2017