Rustica

fired oak among musty thickets
baltic birch caulked with resin
gel stained lacquer settles upon the heartwood

the health sputters
embers – snap and smoulder
logs ablaze amongst crumpled papers

wicks are lighted
new scents mask the old
a rusted metal screw sends corks flying

stillness sets in
pages turn, rustled by the wind
crisp, aromatic, ascetic