Reflective realities

Darkening dusk
drifting - the dog and I
rove the native grounds
in our neighborhood
the barren trees
have shedded the last leaves
it is November it is cold
it is dark
that's our reality
what's yours?

Is it swaying palm trees
sitting on a bar stool
watching the setting sun
slowly slurping
your dry martini
as your lover gradually
let the backside of his hand
slide gingerly up and down
your thigh - an alluring
invite to make love?

Or is it fighting
a war somewhere in snow capped
dangerous pikes - howling winds
with no end in sight
to your battles against
what your leaders consider
the horrible enemies
supported monetarily
by others who hold their
own vicious agendas
not caring at all whether
you live or die?

Or is it cradling
your firstborn who has
just been born to you and
the unknown man who raped
you for your virginity
and yet your cannot
help looking at the wonder?

Or is it working
dedicatedly for a better
and more enlightening
world, somewhere building
houses for the poor
in a hot humidity
seeing that there is
hope after all?

Or is it being
alive where ever you are
and having lived
a truly productive
long life - wrinkled
in a rocking chair
gazing at children
playing in the street
watching that life
still grows gingerly
through unfairness
hate, poverty and war
realizing in spite
that rainbow flowers
will still bloom
when we are gone?