Art: Excursion by D.M. Davis, @dmdavisart
WOODLAND POND
Stray ebb of night
swirls black water from her
in a meager grove
of orange-leafed trees.
of orange-leafed trees.
She studies the bracken and reeds,
looks past the embankment
looks past the embankment
to figures standing in the distance;
the man in the straw hat
the man in the straw hat
leaning on a grey fence
talking to his daughter.
talking to his daughter.
In a few desperate sentences
he speaks of things to deny or embrace
he speaks of things to deny or embrace
the endless sky
the empty earth
the empty earth
ghosts of the north country
conspiring with fire.
conspiring with fire.
The girl listens momentarily,
begins to drift away
begins to drift away
floating through leaves
and tresses of moss
and tresses of moss
alighting on a small shoreline—
folding in, turning back.
folding in, turning back.
About the author:
Richard King Perkins II is a state-sponsored advocate for residents in long-term care facilities. He lives in Crystal Lake, IL, USA with his wife, Vickie and daughter, Sage. He is a three-time Pushcart, Best of the Net and Best of the Web nominee whose work has appeared in more than a thousand publications.
Art: Excursion by D.M. Davis, @dmdavisart