Redwood Foreigner

Too many grains with fibers bent

The splintered veins run without intent

Intersecting every corner

Collisions in this redwood foreigner

Each year the carving ripples bring

Loopy age in twisted rings

Until a slice of axe takes rage

And scrawls its life onto a page

Departure

You sit and watch the changing lights

I wake you from your static life

The carousel that took you far,

Only spun you 'neath the stars

Only sees your crimson car

Only floats on gravels of tar

The summer mist dissolved to dust

All these gates just wait to rust

Its time to leave this carnival

Leaves detach and beckon fall

The fair has gone, the joy has left

The clowns departed with their theft

While solitude calls to depart

An autumn home awaits your heart

And if you still don't choose to go,

I'll have no other friend I know.