“Dear John”

When A Verse Tells A Tale

dear john letter
caught in the railing
icy water below

No Rest

no footstep in the hall
the dull tick of the clock
sleep but no rest

all the words not said
all the ones that still echo
after the door slams

in a gray cloak
the sky prepares to weep
the end of autumn

the doll abandoned
for a new best friend
leans on the old bear

let me slip off in peace
avoiding the rivers of
lingering goodbyes

like a stray cat
the teen girl searches the dumpster
one more time

stinging nettles
brush my ankles as I pass
whips of sharp regret

shards of broken glass
glitter among the autumn leaves
shattered dreams

the old barn fell last night
today the swallows sit
in silent grief