Raking over the ashes

Sea shore

Chill breeze wavers through denuded treetops
Teasing dust from a final coal delivery
A few sacks on a grim-rimmed lorry
One last load of warmth in the gloaming
Rattle of coal transports me to chill Autumn eve long passed
Echoes of coal on shovel, unceremoniously churns memory
A smell of toast – draws you close in the half light,
Our idle talk of figures dancing,
in pirouette of yellow blue flames
Enchantment of warm shadows shuts out the world
Comforted by the fire of our love, now long gone
I shiver doubly cold in winter’s afternoon
Through the yawning void of your absence
I rake over the embers of vane hope – weep silently for loss
Aching for warmth, from benighted cold ashes
Dead hope frozen, I trudge on alone,
In silent gloom forever frozen by absence