Desolation, by Ken Gierke

In High Azure, by Arkady Rylov (Russia). 1918.

Desolation

Rock and snow my prison cell
Stranded in the midst of beauty
Blue waves and sky no consolation
Thoughts of rescue from this desolation

Now as distant as a passing ship,
With its snapping sails
A faint syncopation
Against the murmur of swans

Taunting me from afar
The freedom of their aerial maneuvers
Bringing only profound sadness
Each passing day

The spark of hope dimmer
Until frozen
Splintering, shattering
Finally gone

Ken Gierke

Ken Gierke was forty before he found the need to write poetry, but even then he was pressed for the time needed to focus.  Retirement has given him that, as well as a different perspective on life, which has come out in his poetry, primarily in haiku and free form verse.  More of his work can be found athttps://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/