roses again

her petals had fallen
but her spirit still rose
unbidden
at the drop
of a leaf
the flight of a raven
the scent of wood smoke
wafting
wafting
wafting
through her soul

the chill of autumn
promising more
the turning
of seasons
reminding her
of seasons turning
before
the passing away
of summer's dubious gifts
and resurrection
of calmness
and quiet

rose hips
plump
promising more
roses would bloom
and then blow away
petals dropping
curling
decaying
spirits rising
roses again...

* * * * * * *

the goldfish

i planted him today
fishy eye
staring as usual
how horrible
to spend your life
lidless
unable to shut out
unpleasantness
or to sleep in darkness

but he sleeps in
the dark now
buried
along with a cousin of his
beneath a bristly fern
ready to give
what is left
of himself
to a new life
just beginning

his body swims in
the dirt now
once-fluid tail
stiffened like
a corn husk
once-glimmering armor
tarnished and dull

out of his element
out of his body
I wonder if he's
paddling serenely
somewhere now
without the
delicate
little oars
he left behind...

* * * * * * *