Rust

The rains have stopped
and you have survived another storm,
the wear showing
in patches of color,

rust,
a proud badge of storms
weathered over time, of
your refusal

to protect yourself well,
leaving
you exposed, your strength
the victim

of the disrespectful waters,
wind and time
that care not for your steel, seeing
only the color of the wear,

Not the strength
underneath.

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The picture was taken along the D&H trail near my house in West Pawlet, VT. You can click on it for a larger version.

Tom