High up in the boughs, the nest clung against the winds,
Among the leafless branches that splayed out reaching into emptiness,
Bony fingers stretching out into the winter void.

Desolate in the brumal air, the nest clung, in lonely sorrow,
To the parting in the fork; its twigs in disarray in the air of abandon;
Amidst cracked eggshells and strewn down lining,
The nest was mute, up in the shaking boughs.

Rheumy eyes peered out through scanty lashes,
From behind parted curtains, at the dreary nest
And blinked the eyes at the unshed tear
Gathered in the ducts that dried up so long ago
In the forlorn days, in the wake of partings
When the last vacant room began to reek of unuse and must.

Breath rattled the bony cage when the watcher sighed in gloom
At the void and emptiness left behind in mottled remnants
Of loves lost and lives departed- dusky shadows in the waning glow
Of fading embers and afternoon sun in the empty room behind!

Everything should always count,
Even jealous years trying
Through memories of promise.

Some thoughts have consequences-
My fate’s pawns play
Upon plots against passions
And pause to sustain dreams.

But, we are the stuff of dreams
And, in our wispy existence,
Words cut deeply like rapiers, and
Neglect surrounds with suffocation-
Pretense wins the day!

Every hurt is cherished, preserved,
And revived with each pained breath,
Oppressingly cheered to know
That I have weathered that too.

Then, hand in hand, we turn
Towards the lowering sun,
Aging towards the sunset!

Dust of desperation shadows mornings;

Soulless hunger rattles weary bones;

Lonely dawn crosses lonelier darkness.

The summer waters tumbled down

In gleeful stream, full of life and joy.

Yet, shadows wait and entice

Into midnight’s snare of subsumed dreamscape

With dark morsels of primal prickings.

Moon changes patiently;

Time floats beyond worn thoughts-

The sane wait out for sun to happen!

Someone always comes
To my window, visiting,
Asking for no welcomes,
Yet, all the same questing.

Often, it’s a swallow,
Face always aturning,
Beady eyes to allow
Some impertinent learning.

I have seen a crow
Many times this year,
Eager to fill his craw,
Hungry for a corn-ear.

A squirrel wasn’t shy
To sit upon the sill,
Hurrying teeth to pry
The nutmeat without a spill.

The neighbor’s tabby mewed
In genuine frustration
As the window grill proved
Hard for penetration.

The wand’ring mongrel poked
Through the window grill;
In expectation peeked
Every day like a drill.

But, I never saw an elephant
Stopping at the window;
Yet, I truly did not lament
The tusker’s absent bow.

Until one day, at the window,
Surprised I was to see
The grey mammoth pass below
And, atremble was my knee.

He walked by, though unbound,
Without a touch, a glance or bend,
Without a crunch or sound;
Majestic was his head’s intent!

Now that I’ve seen an elephant
Outside my very window,
I’ve seen all I need or want
And, I’ll stand away, I vow!