Deep,

dark wood,

moon-bleached

and rinsed of light

of color.

Earth lifts —

root-twined,

rocky —

in slow and steady

upward arch

beneath a burden

of pines.

Gaunt figure.

Slack of limb

and wasted frame,

flame of hair and

spirit snuffed.

He shuffles unaware

in shabby slippers

and threadbare robe

between attentive,

watchful trees.

Alone.

Alone and ghostly.

Diminished.

Lost among

the elements,

whose beauty

would be magnified

did he not

haunt them

so.

— C.Birde, 6/20