Perle Champion

yellowing leaves cling
to boughs of trees loathe to leave
frost awaits its cue

unlikely fruit, life’s

juices staining the pale ground

strewn along the strand

sea waves to and fro

washing away evidence

of war’s wanton waste

here and there, a child

sleeps never again to wake

felled grey-faced angels

born a vagabond
did gypsies deliver me
not content with here

seeking what is next
the next one, or place or thing
just around the bend

time is in motion
it flows we just navigate
equinox solstice

again and again
the flow of days’ apex reached
on toward darkest night

astride a yellow
horse cross yellow fields she rides
neath fall’s yellow leaves

winter’s breath blew
hard and the people hungered
for spring’s promises

the star-white cat she
preceded her every where
none dared cross her path

familiar to one
fearful unknown to others
dragon at earth’s edge

she sat up amid
red silk startled from slumber
trying to hang on

to the edge of sleep
some important thought lurked there
moments then was gone

lost on waking like
errant remnants of a dream
fled beyond recall

outside looking in
idyllic to naive eyes
but silhouettes lie

the soft glow misleads
softening real life’s edges
fall’s leaves veil winter

we hide what we are

behind facades shown the world

it changes nothing

that thin armor can’t

keep all the torches at bay

the night hides the stake