Steam rose
From calm lake
Open waters
Between placid patches
Smooth ice
Encapsulated wet
From the frozen
One false step
On newly formed ice
Would send you
Plunging
Into bitter cold
Clinging wet
Freezing solid
In bitter air
System shocked
Floundered for help
But found none
Only
Darkness
– James Dubeau
The blade is quick
Against flesh
Silver
Sharp
For once
Not dull
Chipped
Or muck covered
From tape residue
Like all those years ago
A quick slash
Red line follows
Not too deep
Just enough
To cause pain
Surfacing emotions
Tears
That don’t emerge
Without inflictions
A mark
Upon soul
And flesh
Everlasting
Until the scar
Imposed on the earth
Fades with time
– James Dubeau
I used to sit here
Around a year ago
Nearly every day
Laptop out
Listening to music
Record spinning
Or headphones in
Ignoring images
Flashing across the screen
In attempts to be
Productive
Happier times
And sad times
But now
Looking back
They were just
Times
Memories
That will fade
Forgotten
With time
– James Dubeau
Rooftop terrace tiles
White with frost
Slick
Not burned away
By morning sun
Not yet
Soon ice will form
And snow will fall
Locking out
Rooftop vistas
Of a frozen lake
For the season
– James Dubeau
Family traditions
Were begging to fade
From generation’s memories
No family to encourage
Annual reliving
Passing them on
To younger kin
Just need to do it
For myself
For my parents
For our memories
Take the time
Make the time
In life’s busy days
To ensure
The best parts of life
We had together
Our family’s traditions
Are remembered
For another year
Before ultimately
Fading
Away
– James Dubeau
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