Short Splintery Poems

Over streams
or above deep ravines,
they cling to the earth that supports them.

Having borne years of burdens, their bones are cracking;
the splintery skin of their once-strong arms now rots.
Threatened by footsteps - though few - they groan. . . .

for time is deserting
old bridges.

(Not in a contest,at least for now.)...

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At that hour
 the breeze turns around.
 The fishermen are coming back
 with hands splintery,
 without lips,
 with eyes of stone.
 The bottom is empty
 like a bottle at midnight.
 The shore is there
 where somebody’s waiting.
 They’ve sleept for a long time. Dreaming.
 With hands locked together.
 He, the wind, the last one
 an orphan, leads
 them…...

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Sleep, Lord Poseidon,
Deep, everlasting sleep
While sailors watch with bated breath

Old planking creaks -
The pitiable, splintering sound -
Old planking creaks

Old sailor,
Splintery-kneed old sailor,
Keeps his watch

With ever a thought of life's futility,
Down deep,
Where dolphins stay

But Lord Poseidon never sleeps
And dolphins play.....
And play...

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A dog
wanders down the road
sniffing
snuffling
head raised
suddenly
alert
to protect
	
    why

*    *    *

A wall
built ten feet high
stone upon stone
brick upon brick
hides the outside

    why

*    *    *

A crack
in the wall
craggy
splintery
light shines thru

    why



Collection: Attaining Peace, Experimental
Written: December 2019...

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CHRISTMAS EVE

riding the wind
a thousand christmas bells
swirl city corners
custom country steeples
ring round my splintery old pew


in a ponderous quiet
on this hallowed eve
i’m forgetting the dreary
remembering those hundred candles
mother singing oh holy night


christmas eve
no snow
torrents of rain
santa comes round
in a pontoon plane

Dave Austin...

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