Stars and Stripes

~

a stinging wind prowls 

pell-mell through the garden,

bare trees shiver above their 

erstwhile burnished striptease, 

their matted leaves lie dull

and fractured like golden stars,

decaying galaxies daubed upon

paths and grass,

what little sun there is hides

behind a battered fence, itself

a casualty of the ceaseless blow,

old slats askew throw pallid light

spears through this sullen scene,

stars and stripes to end this

disappointing day

*

© Graham R Sherwood 11/24