March 'til Eventide

When cicadas pipe and purl and usher in the gloaming with their song
May you and I go roaming down the lane, along the thinning throng
When the dying sun hurls hues of crimson on the dimming countryside
May we tarry by the wild blackberry, may we march 'til eventide.

As all the worn and weary boatmen cast their anchors in the harbor
As the merchants flee their markets, filling pubs with puffs of ardor
As the silver of the afternoon and sapphire of the dusk collide
May we talk with tickled tongues together, may we march 'til eventide.

I watch my shadow run and revel all along your raven hair
I watch your breath, toss and tumble, all throughout the springtime air
I watch your eyes, thick with thought, wince, withdraw, and open wide
May you wonder as you wander, may we march 'til eventide.

We ramble, romp, and roam along the soft, bronze beach beside the bay
Our feet flirt with the slushing foam before we turn to walk away
We watch as windows gleam and glow, with daylight having long since died
Nighttime creeps from far and wide; here ends our march 'til eventide.

When darkness gathers grim and gloomy, and we tread to town together
We'll dash and dance around the heather; twilight never lasts forever
And when we're stowed in our abode, so merrily we both reside
My bride and I will bide the time, until again it's eventide.

Parabolic Mirror

Glowing embers crackle, snap and tackle to the hearth

A retreating brisk and chilly stronghold on the dawn

As the willow weeps and wrings its sad song to the world

Awaking with it, weeping out, a new day comes unfurled.

*

Then piping cinders, daylight hindered, through the skyline curled

Stalking, stabbing, prickling, grabbing fog of murk and smog.

Buildings tower, pigeons scour, cower 'neath the seething sun;

A march of headlights, squinting through, like diamonds on the run,

*

Coyotes yowl, a howling owl, their dawn song come undone,

Whilst crickets quaver, dogwoods waver with a balmy breeze.

Though all of this, a teasing ease, for progress murmers nearer

No more is clearer; murk and smog, a parabolic mirror.