The wrought iron’s

faded glory

of paint though black

and lusterless has faded

even more. Long

gone and long ago cracks

started, spread, bared

to vulnerability

the structure’s soul.

Rusty blisters efface

its form, pretty

coils its only momentos

of beauty.  Soon further

pummeling by salt & rain

will eat away at

it and flakes will fall

until its core

of metal strong

is gone.

Published on April 17th, 2023