‘Degrees of Light’ and Other Poetry by Charles Bauer

Degrees of Light

She squinted, watching circling gulls
Fly overhead; small rhythmic waves
Slapped steadily upon ship hulls.
Brown crabs dashed out from wet sand caves

Evading hungry birds; dried fins
Of fish lay underneath palm trees.
Sleek dolphins laughed with long fixed grins,
Warm west wind stirred, strong humid breeze,

Fierce storms came following; gray rain
Swept down in sheets, obscuring sight,
Then faded, giving way to reign
Of silver stars and blue moon light.

She raised her eyes to see the stars
Embedded in their velvet cloak;
Low full moon’s face was marked with scars,
Mice foraged underneath old oak.

When morning’s dew became a fog,
Small birds’ soft trills spread through the woods;
A fern grew near a rotting log,
An ant ran home with hard-won goods.

The morning’s light began to send
Concealing mist into the air;
She turned to watch the sun ascend,
Soft sunlight filtered through her hair.

Years 8/4/2/1

Smoke laughs aloud, its coils begin to snake
As arguments break out about its name.
It sends a shape, death follows in its wake.

2001, mist arrows strike and make
All New York City feel their hate filled claim.
Smoke laughs aloud, its coils begin to snake.

2009, Fort Hood endures heartache
As heated haze sets out to kill and maim.
It sends a shape, death follows in its wake.

2013, Boston shocks awake
As young smog wisps achieve horrific fame.
Smoke laughs aloud, its coils begin to snake.

2015, Paris mourns for sake
Of loved ones twice as vapor war claws came.
It sends a shape, death follows in its wake.

2016 in Orlando, same
Results, soot shooting from a mind aflame;
Smoke laughs aloud, its coils begin to snake,
It sends a shape, death follows in its wake.

Charlie resides in Apex, NC and is a salesman for a commercial carpet manufacturer.