lei fraser

A page turned with the wind
Paper from the book rustled then settled
Soundlessly
Morning stole through the window
Over the fury of night’s contemplation
No glorious sunshine
Danced and dripped gold over everything
To soften every edge and hue
Instead a cold unforgiving February day
Stared while the sky struck at the frozen ground
Bending barren tree branches in an icy coat
The white glares at me
I feel the snow bore into every cell
It blinds
Or do I blind myself?
Who do I blame when things get so hard
When they get this hard?
Steeled against the coming minutes and hours
Wiping sleep from my eyes
To peer cautiously at the resting page
What did my hand write
During my sleep
Look for nothing
Look for me
I am here

~

i have been watching my
white orchid
waiting for it to bloom
endless days it seemed
the last bloom hung
tucked into its pale green cucoon
waiting waiting waiting
and then without warning
i woke one morning
in the soft light of a new day
i saw the bloom had exploded
onto the fragile stem

~

i watched the morning sun
shine through a fern
a perfect emerald silhoette
dew gathered in the folds
of a scarlet maple leaf
shimmering in the light
i was not until i looked closely
that i saw the long slender
legs of the spider
resting on its glistening web
in complete stillness

~

listen to the wind
whispering in the softest voice
the stream sings
a laughing melody
under tall, firey trees
while my heart soars
with the southbound geese
and lies at once with
the slumbering trillium
wrapped in the solid stone shield
of this ancient soil
soon the snow will fly
and all this will remain
in untouched harmony
~

bamboo grows on the window sill
tiny saplings in water and glass
i am coaxing them skyward
i watched an emerald flyer
spread her golden wings
to dance in the sky blue eye
dipping and soaring in the breeze
fluid flight becomes a slow trickle
a gentle waterfall
flowing into itself
as she lights on the window before me
resting quietly in the late sun
i see my reflection there

~

autumn roses spill crimson
over the stones in the drive
reflections dance in the puddles
with every cooling drop

steady drumming
through the trees
a soothing lullaby
sung against this rich tapestry
as i stand collecting raindrops
in my upturned palm

~

gentle rain falling
against broad emerald leaf
tracing its lines and ridges
down to the slender stem

~

I bent my head down
to write out all of my anger,
frustration and sorrow…
instead my heart spilled out
across the blank white page before me
joy snuck out in streaks of gold
and happiness, close on her heals,
with careless splashes of scarlet and rose
soon the page a chaotic dance
a riot of colour
and between the rain of laughter
I sit shocked by my own blind reverie
~

this star shines
as our love
through endless sky
uncontained
so shall we be
for all eternity

~

water drips down
the side of the glass
like a tear
does it fall out of joy or sorrow?
is it enough that it falls?
sliding down the cool surface
to form a small pool on the table’s face
water drop descends and i am drawn
to your photograph
it shows a deep reflection
of the world outside my window
framed with silver
this sight takes my breath
how is it i have sat
on endless days turned
from what has always been before me?
absently i draw my fingertip
through the fallen drop
tracing an invisible map
of my hand
and then…
one last kiss as i touch
my finger to my lips
and the waterdrop is drawn
within
~

I was the other one
that wasn’t me
the overturned petal
where the light of sun
doesn’t lay to sleep
the entire day away

~

there was a drop of rain this morning
that fell against my cheek
a pinprick cold shock
looking into the sky
why did you fall against me,
wake me, startle me, love me?
your sudden kiss
took my breath,
made me stand still
i almost missed knowing you
with another step

~