…covers his steps

A midwinter night
empty of stars
frost sparkles
on black rooftops
on the cobblestone streets below

the dark settles deep within
in this empty moment in time
he stands alone
the pain in his eyes
deeper than the glassy pond

he stares with sadness
at an empty bench
and wonders
at the frigid touch
of the cruel wind
that seems to steal his breath
and slow his thoughts

in this long, dark exile
it seems he dies a little
with every brittle leaf, as it falls
forever fading from this life
he feels his aching, lonely heart
still beating
yet frozen with his loss

he feels the night is ever falling
like the silent drifts of snow
now blowing in
and he sighs deep
and shuddering
and drags his gaze
from the empty bench

he shrugs his shoulders
against the cold
and slowly turns away
as the snow
like ashes
covers his steps
© Ann Bagnall
2014