first fog of winter

believe in the sounds
as they leave the porch
welping the winsome portraits
into winnowing wombs

I saw each of you
born in reverse
imploding into oblivion
reverting to timelessness

like God, a dream thereof

in whatever moment
we wake up to
the rivers will flow
toward welcoming oceans

the stars set back
against city lights
sing an aching melody
meant to break hearts

when shall I wake again?

morning grey settled smoke
lingering nights cold
stiff lungs exhaling
stretching creaking cracking

I broke this night
in my chest
it fell into broken
rock fragments

it is time to learn
the question is never:
"do you love me?"
as love is elemental

no, how do you resist
the crumbling faces
frozen enigmatic starlight
dressed in purple decay

"I loved you as the moon
spied upon from beyond
fog banks heavy with
winter enshrowded memories"

as anything barely explained
the fog bank settles
and may just stay
until the sun breaks this axis

and the earth drifts into
a new season with new traumas
endless dreams and wakeless days
surrounded with meek words

some melody's sound crushed
in the thick cold air
as another night swallows whole
every emotive element

grasping for a new kind of expression

and I'm wishing love weren't a feeling
but a compass leading toward light
that burns off all of the fog
leaving no question behind