13,737. MANY SHADES

MANY SHADES

Or as many as black and blue

can offer : shadings under the

fading elm, the dying ash, and

all those dwindling firs. It's a

sad world sometimes closing.

-

I walk along the path and only

see frogs. They jump across,

determined as if amused. Each

landing makes a ripple in some

thickened water. Like lives, 

spreading out their past.

-

A stranger walks the other way;

nodding as if to say, 'Don't be

so glum, you cheery one, it's

just another day.' Oh boy. I'm

glad I'm away, but I wish

I was home.