lei fraser

This day lies, rolled in darkness now
The cool night air slips through the window…
I should probably shut it
But don’t
The chill on my skin keeps me alert
Or at least gives me the comforting illusion that I am
The light from the candle is warm
My hand seems soft and unscarred
I smile knowing another illusion lies
And I think how can this be that I want to sit here
Wait for the phone to ring or a letter to arrive at the door
While you have gone again
The time will pass as it always does
No alteration to it will come
It cannot be stopped, not even with sleep
The dream will stay for only as long as my eyes close
And I know this with the heart
Whole and unbroken
Soon this deep night will leave itself
To let the sun rise once again into the endless sky
The wind will continue to blow,
Every living thing will draw breath as it has before
And I, I will watch the steam from my tea
Rise
~

Now this heart is home
As you tell all you think you know
What can I do?
It’s the choice you made
To view the world as you say
I don’t want to be your reflection
Or your helping hand
Only you can know
Where it is you stand
All that you assume
Is the baggage you carry to the room
So if you don’t mind
I will sit quietly here
And listen to the wind unwind
When it has finished I will keep going on
~

when the sky blushes,
the water still as silvered glass
and the stars shine one more time
at their brightest
before the first stretch of dawn
I sit with silence to greet the day
The world still sleeping
And though still gently tucked away
I want only to feel the first warm ray of light
Slip across my palm
Not to hold the light between my fingers,
But to feel its lingering kiss as it passes
There are no words that I have found
Nothing that can compare to
The first breath of day
When the sky is painted with a carefree hand,
The sun lies just beyond the farthest line
And the cool sand a sweet and gentle gift
That reminds me I am alive
~

water drops from my hair
head bent low, watching
silver orbs slip down long strands
to plummet below
each drop a thought
too deep even for tears
their rippled consequence
almost unperceived
in the mass of fragile white
light reflecting upon itself infinitely
stays my gaze
while jasmine hangs
as an aromatic veil
not to obscure
instead a warm, yielding embrace
to hold me still
in the absent cleansing trails my fingers draw
on the extremities and porcelain
the moment slowly drains away
and yet, i feel there is something
just arriving
~

river slowly curls
around the stayed stone
as the eagle soars
beyond the highest pines
in this still place
i can hear the breath
you take as though
it was my own
what reason brings us
to meet in this even flow
if only to watch the sun
as it rises and sets on each day
light to pass like a kiss,
a caress, a dream
i rest my head to yours
not daring to ask or reveal
the words spill from your lips
tell me – it’s why i am here
all i can do is join the words together
pearls on a string
and begin
~

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

tea steaming on the counter
while wind rattles passed
the window
drops of rain smash
through blades of grass
to drown myriad insects
gathered in the garden
i watched the dark clouds
move over the afternoon
blocking the sun
i knew enough then
to come indoors
to put the kettle on
~

sitting in anticipation
of a quiet moment
absent gaze
through the window
the unexpected kiss
of a warm breeze on a cold day
the startling cry of a hungry crow
roots me to my chair
to reveal the moment
has already come and gone
~

listen to the wind
whispering in the softest voice
the stream sings
a laughing melody
under tall, fiery 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
i watched the morning sun
shine through a fern
a perfect emerald silhouette
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
~

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
~

in a moment
lotus blooms
still, quiet waters settle
after the crane finds
wind to lift it
skyward
~

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