change of seasons
he dresses himself
in the first long coat
of the cool season
the weather has fallen
the chill a drifting hover
above the ground
gloves
a scarf
the knitted woolen cap
the deciduous footpaths
are a litter of brown leaves
the sky
fading skeletal finger-shadows
of bare branches
and disappearing cloud
the first mist materialises
with each exhaled breath
as he walks
hands in pockets
along the streetscape
of new night
he is empty
as the feeling of the season
~
a bicycle inquisition flashes past
all yellow reflections
and strobe-light examination
of presence and purpose
the dog of indifference
sprays piss and paws the ground
oblivious
at the corner of corio and maude
the light peering down
is a loneliness he avoids
by adherence to shadows
why does the man-shape
behind a telling glow of cigarette ember
dally against the fence
what purpose to its watching
move on
~
on the avenue of exposure
there are no trees
no cover
here it is rapid steps
and multiple following shapes
each drawn directly from the placement
of his feet
spreading out
a pointer to each available direction
there is no help here
he expected none
expected nothing
~
his shoulders have slumped
the further he has walked
the closer he feels
to the ground
there is no comfort in these places
above him
the darkness is complete
save for the twinkling lies
of faded representatives
they do not assist
~
in the light of a shopfront
he draws his cap lower
stops to look at the gaudy collection
vacuum cleaners
refrigeration
a compact disk rack
one silent wide-television
flashing images and colour
there is confusion here
move on
a vacant block is home
to a blackened gutted shell
that once sold yellow
faux-leather divans
reclining lounge wear
an eyesore still
~
his nostrils are uncomfortable
sensitised by the intake of cold air
to wipe it would require
extraction of hand from glove
he sniffs
turns the corner
there is no point
in stopping
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Book of Evenings is now available for purchase online. Check it out and
a review of the book on the Tales of Faust webpage at www.talesoffaust.com
While you're there, if you find something you like, take the time to
nominate a poem for a future publication by the Tales of Faust publishing
team.
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