Fateless

[A continuation of Ageless]

Lazily the boat stretches out

The girl picks through her pocket

And finds a small stash of pebbles

Sending them to their new home

The old man spies an egret

burying its head among the reeds

He finds his partner

A ten-year-old black pipe

And blows his bubbles

Suddenly something thrashes in the sky

Cloaking the clouds

"Should we go back?" the girl asks

"Let's row to that bank and watch the storm"

"You aren't afraid of lightning?" she half-jokingly asks

A small smile tugs at his corners

"I am, but I'm willing to take my chances"

A white jagged tooth flashes in and out

of the sky as tiny whisperings 

coiled around trees

die down 

She stretches out her hand

greeting cold air

and looks at the old man

A quiet storm brewing in his grey eyes