her capacity for stoicism
is diminishing hourly
as pain becomes both
insidious and barefaced

her world is now small
one specailized chair
in one room and then
those who visit, catch her
attention, but for awhile

she seems to have shrunk
curling in upon herself
like a leaf, separated
from the tree

i have watched others die,
this, this is so much more
difficult and complex
there are so many ties
some made threadbare
by years of casual use,
some still strong that will need
to be unravelled over years of memory

she once was so large,
so vibrant and strong
but pain like water
is undercutting her banks
and soon this river will pass out to sea
as her wellspring gives out

then we all will be smaller for her passing

tiny bird thief, that cheeky sparrow
lionheart in brown tweed plumage as he
steals  breakfast from the cat's bowl

the cat looks on confused
dinner (he only wishes) stealing breakfast
what a topsy turvy world
must go contemplate this,
conundrum  in the sun patch, by the window

pin dropping
silence shattered by whispers
gossip abounds
pinpricking comments
draw beads of bright red
food for the masses
spindoctors prescribing
the ****** of the day
click and share the apple
the new fashioned way
fast to the patient
science is blind
social media
the panacea for
the mordern mind
drink up the draught
of absinthe light
drink again
follow the plight
of the reality ****
and more
**** till your full
drink till
you pour your
intelligence
down the drain
drink and dance
till you feel no pain
then wander oblivious
until you can do it again
sense and money
down the drain
no longer able
to hear the cries
of other's nearby
just caught in your
own  circle of lies

pins drop
but no one hears
all caught up
with little screens
and musical ears

all caught up
in soapbox tears
all bound up
with first world fears

all we hear now
are the silent screams
muted by apathy

just a background murmur
......getting softer...as we walk away
with faces averted....

the day ends with a shower
rain falls through a golden sunset
and the rainbow stretches out past the waves
another *** of gold given to the deep blue water
i breathe in the smell of rain as a gather damp washing
to hang under the verandah's eaves
the cat watches from the window
meowing for his dinner
the rain feels cool on my face

the cherry wood box
sits on the mantle
it is a reminder
of his love
handmade, upon a lathe
from a burl of an old sweet cherry
it is smooth as silk to touch
of a deep yellow redish hue
carved to look like the rounded back
of a cat curled in on itself, asleep
the rings once present in the tree
give the box the look of a tabby cat

inside the love notes we share
it has over time become a letterdrop
today....his note...invites me to
a night of gentle but thorough  love
my note....says...yes....please

cherry red, dark skins
hard-hearted fruit, flesh such sweet
succulent morsels

cherry blossoms float
delicate pink white cloud flakes
blushing plant snow-fall