Birthday

close up photo of a birthday candle and the box it came in

Bright-eyed and sparkling,
candle, wastes its life away;
defines another.

Moon

Photo of a half-moon, as seen from the window of a second floor building, with other buildings and facades visible.

Tidal commander
smiles at me from miles away;
half-moon spectacle.

Dry

Photo of the Cauveri river in Trichy with spots of water. As seen through the window of a bus.

Lifeblood running out—
the river as dry as bone;
hypoxic city.

Planning

photo of a loft of pigeons retired to a parapet wall as the sun sets

On a parapet,
plotting world domination—
a loft of pigeons.

Survive

Photo of the ancient rocks on a beach.

Scarred, marred, and reformed
over thousands of lifetimes
earth survived humans