The day 
of reckoning 
has arrived 
and now 
we wait
I imagine 
that many
stand with 
me on 
turret and 
rampart ready
to defend 
and others 
down below 
brothers and 
sisters who 
broke from 
freedom to 
allay themselves 
with greed
ready their 
battle weapons 
one will 
be victorious 
democracy or
their king 

And little 
pebbles of
clear grip
grin grasp
greeting me 
just beyond 
there on
that side 
not this 
for here
they’d slip
slide like 
little race
cars but 
out there 
they like 
diamonds just 
sit reflecting 
the city

Hearing the 
first tick
tick tackety 
tick of
frozen rain
against windows 
I know 
snow’s coming 
it’s sent 
its messenger 
warning warmth
that cold 
is due 
very soon 
it’s time 
to go 

Sheets first
to neck
pushed to 
foot naked
two continents 
a sea
of linen 
between them 
mountains and 
gorges forests 
hiding desires 
dark deep 
pools and 
cliffs from 
which to 
dive and 
lips soft
shells in
which to
hear secrets 

Rusty dusty
and musty
cheap patina 
untouched thing
damp dark 
and forgotten 
like bicycles 
books and 
precious diaries 
once ridden 
with gleeful 
abandon once
prized possessions 
once the 
keeper of 
forbidden secrets 
and desires 
these three
siblings two
brothers and 
a sister 
children of 
getting old