sunset swells

a bloated balloon that bursts
a smeary mess of reds and golds

clouds smolder
then fall
ashes
on nervous waters

dusk drips
in heavy molten drops
a hiss
that disappears
in the dainty biting mouths
of a hungry sea

Janet Butler relocated to California after many years in Italy, where she began her career in both watercolors and poetry. Recent publications include Niederngasse, Amarillo Bay, Minnetonka Review, Flutter, Ampersand, California Quarterly and The Indented Pillow. Eden Fables was published by Language and Culture for their 2007-2008 Chapbook Series. Collection: Ekphrastic Poems by Robert Schuler and Janet Butler was published by Canvas Press in 2007 and Shadowline, a collection of 50 poems came out in 2007, Gatto Publishing, Scotland, Editors.