Still Life

by Angelo Niles
(San Diego)

Gushing falls are still
wading this time's brook,
a dredge;
Autumn silence steals over me
the tired whir
of machines
. . .life.

Life-long waiting for you
a princess dove
in a forest.

Standing still, moving too fast
not far enough
till paths cross;
Held at this stream's leg
I strain to hear
the waterfall's sigh

But find
only the drum in my chest
against this wall
of gushing falls.