Basin

Her tap runs
Every night
To wash away
New paint
Her gutters dark
With shadow lines

Wrinkles deep
Creeping in
Showing off
True design

The mirror shows
An old face
Left behind
No making up
For father time

The mirror glows
With stretched lobes
Burdened long
With gem stones

Precious loads
Condemned to face
Their years alone

For when age condones
Her passing bones
The stones are left
To peeling walls
Raining dust
On naked floors
Captured as the mirror's own

Deserter

Massed ranks
Of straight backs
Love defending truth

Massed ranks
Of shined shoes
Scuffing on my boots

Massed ranks
Of raised hands
Betray my weak salute