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Shuddering Flare
And then the cold had its story to tell again and emerged overnight
The seasons had not changed but as always kept a sudden surprise
Days sunbathing and skinny dipping on the beach felt like a shiver
As the UV filter congealed in oily tubes and prepared to hibernate
Shells from the shoreline caught the fading light by the window
Sent a message of hope and rebirth with foregone conclusions
That life can be a nauseous circle and hearts can fade without fail
Pebbles watched on still sandy and puzzled for they had lost the sea
Driftwood was stacked near the fireplace and awaited its fate
Would it go up in smoke or be preserved for artwork and fantasy
Knotted and round at the edges the tinder planned its escape
We should warm hearts and memories and refuse to be ashes
Fossilised wisdom cast its message from the core of its surface
Requested to be held in regard and esteem by the collector
Sandalwood fragrance conjoined with salty motion making waves
And reached deep inside sadness and sorrow for ongoing erosion
Jenny had lit candles whose flames danced a ballet with apt feeling
Moving as they held court over coal logs bellow ember and ashes
Their flickering flashes sang a tune of resilience and feeble closure
Blending with shades of rose petals and thorns gathered in summer
While woollen hats blankets and hot water bottles found purpose
In the essence and meaning of heart-warming tender togetherness
Jenny folded summer clothes and gave them a home in the confines
Of her chest of drawers handed down over generations of close kin
She made pumpkin soup with ground cinnamon and nobly ginger
Grated herbs seeds and remembrance then smacked her kind lips
My kisses have survived another year frozen as they may impress
The knowledge that life is impermanent and wanes as it struggles
In the distance a fog horn sounded mist spray darkness and longing
The lighthouse’s beams shone a torch and glowed unperturbed
Whereas Jenny felt a moment of questioning the might of the ocean
Took out a photograph and honoured her husband long missed in a storm
25th October 2019
Copyright ©
Kai Michael Neumann
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