Drinking Alone

(After Li Po)

The evening is heavy
with shadows. Wind
whistles through the trees
like the music of flutes,
and leaves dance
like unstable parachutes.
Darkness drops like paint
poured on a canvas.
I observe a small cloud,
as nervous as a bride,
as it coyly teases the moon.
But tonight, a raven
is watching, instead
of a youthful groom.

***

George Freek is a poet/playwright living in Belvidere, IL. His poetry has recently appeared in Off Course, The Big Windows Review, The Chiron Review, Torrid Literature, and The Adelaide Magazine. His plays are published by Playscripts, Inc.; Lazy Bee Scripts; and Off the Wall Plays.