There, a red squirrel. And over here,
a lake - quiet, safe.
No need for it to plead innocent.
Baby mallards - my eyes deserve no
better
and madder blooms pink
where once were flashing lights,
an ambulance off its head.
Distraction's doing a fine job.
Lapping water and a frog on a lily
pad -
forgetting's two guideposts.
Even thick boughs shut out the night,
that dazzled with pain,
that cut up the turf
with stampeding friends and
relatives.
The lake's all living creatures now.
Other than my toes,
there's nothing to drag from its waters.
My lungs expel in gentle puffs.
There's no fear of drowning.
Breeze scatters leaves.
It doesn't knot people together,
crowd them at the edge of yellow
tape,
squeeze their chests so tight
that no one can safely scream.
Bubbles break the surface.
Must be a fish.
They can breathe underwater.
They can do what momma tells them.
John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published
in the Tau, Studio One and Columbia Review with work upcoming in Naugatuck
River Review, Examined Life Journal and Midwest Quarterly.
Tags:
Poetry