ISOLATION

Cold sifts through
Bare-branched peaks,
Encasing lonely watchers
On bare bench seats.

A woman, solitary,
Circles through the park.
Desultory children swing,
But without a spark.

A hatless man draws a cigarette,
A company of one,
Eyes squinched against the smoke,
He limps away when done.

An ebony crow’s raucous caw
Lances through the silence,
Then at his temerity takes flight
As if to do his penance.

Light dims,
Walkers gone away.
A ragged man beds a bench,
His blanket, papers of the day.