A Winter Night by a Lake: Three Refractions of the Same Scene

Pretty Poem (Disgust)

I write it with disgust, not distaste.
The ink rusts — musk of rot —
Repulsive as air that chokes,
Reek bulging in the throat.

Fireflies emerge where
Darkness pukes.
Perverse illumination.
Void turns over in static,
Stirs despair’s pure air,
Screams:

I write it amused, a little flabbergasted.
The ink giggles — whiff of frolic —
Chuckle as the gasp that chokes,
Tickle bulging in the throat.

Fireflies emerge where
Darkness rests.
Jump-scare illumination.
Void drops towel in static,
Despair’s eyes pop out,

Screams:

➤ Light!!!

A butterfly-hued moth
Floats near origin —
Warm sweat — streams that slip,
Then fall.
A waterfall — oh no. Wait —
It’s a cow pissing.

The silver glow
Smells ammonian.
The gleam shimmering on the water —
Still piss puddle.

A falling star eludes glance.

Truth compressed.
Elevated to flicker

➤ Unmarked is chugged engine.

Blood. It doesn’t spill.
It’s splintered as organic return.
White on tall, birds’ deposit to pines
Turns in flake; it sprinkles,
With wind jerking
Alpine.

Icy, star-stabbed winter night.
Montane.
A lake.
A moth.
A waterfall.
Fireflies,
Moonlit.

Curtain call: sleep’s pratfall.

Pretty Poem (Wonder)

I write it from conjecture, not structured.
The ink saunters — trace of wonder —
Confronting as air that chokes,
Awe bulging in the throat.

Fireflies emerge where
Darkness retreats.
Caressing illumination.
Void stretches luxuriantly,
Pandiculates despair pleasantly
Yawns:

➤ Contraction release.

A butterfly-hued moth
Floats towards origin —
Cold efflux — streams that slip,
Then fall.
A waterfall — noble — high-born river’s resign.

The silver glow
Smells of opulence.
The light shimmering
On the lake —
Unveiled.

A falling star eluded glance.
Truth distilled.
Ephemeral beauty,

➤ Unmarked is transcendence.

Tears. It doesn’t spill.
It pauses to reverie.
White on stoic, steadfast pines,
Melts as flake,
In smile.
Wind blankets Alpine.

Icy, star-dazzled winter night.
Montane.
A lake.
A moth.
A waterfall.
Fireflies,
Moonlit.

Beauty in beholder of eyes?