Sonnet

Looking at Ruisdael’s The Jewish Cemetery.
Here are symbols of mortality.
With sadness here we bring our loved ones to bury.
In the picture a dead white tree has centrality.

Then the rushing stream.
The black storm tossed clouds, the crumbling ruins.
The neglected graves as in a dream.
All is vanitas, take note, beware humans.

All who were afflicted in any way.
Were crowding forward to touch him.
We too can keep fear at bay.
If we too seek to touch him.

The signs are all about us.
It is not too late to catch his bus.

Haiku

All is vanitas
The sights are all about us
Too late to catch bus