Old Tropes

​The old tropes have died.
Not just roses, whose cover
was blown before the turn
of the last century, nor
columbines and swains—​​
the stars have burnt out,
earth has covered the mossy
gravestones, and the patina
of moonlight has been
scoured by the winds of time.
Where two roads branched,
we’ve got lights and signs,
though still we cannot find
our way. Nothing molders