Bruised

Sunlight strains through a dust stained window,

Speckled in last spring’s dried raindrops.

Bruised shadows fan the entirety of a compromised chamber;

Not radiant, not luminous, not exactly dull, but – gentle and subdued.

They flicker as the sunlight plays with the stirring foliage outside

Like shadow puppets behind a calico screen.

I could cleanse the tainted glass;

Lift the burden from its smattered lens;

The light would then flood blindingly, naturally, dazzlingly,

But I have become accustomed to the bruised shadows,
And they trouble you not.

Those gentle bruised shadows, they dance for me.

© Strauss

2006

Image by David Evans

Jewelled Pebbles

Your eyes were sculpt

from polished white pebbles,

and adorned with a jewel

of opal and onyx.

Eons ago,

the jewel came to life,

and sparked with delight

and mischief.

Your eyes,

they've cried happy tears;

sad tears; they bore witness.

They've squinted in the sun;

Clamped tight in fear;

and swooned

in the presence of a lover.

In my despair,

I peer within,

hoping that you still remain.

But though I do search,

your last breath

long expelled,

all I behold

are jewelled pebbles.

Strauss

8th June 2011