Art: Tree Out the Window by Christopher Woods
I was, You Were
I was a stalwart fishing pier, jutting into tranquil sea;
you were a fractious ocean storm, roiling over me,
salty as a pickling brine but twice as savory.
I was a hulking backyard fire burning up debris;
you were Santa Ana wind of great intensity,
caught my embers in your breath, suddenly I’m free.
I was a parch-lipped desert as far as eyes could see;
you were twice as prickly as an ancient baobab tree,
your thistles whistling in the air, sounding coquetry.
I was a scabrous parasite on the backside of a flea;
you treated me with due respect and strained sobriety,
scratched me off a window sill with grace and bon-homie.
I was an un-mailed letter; you were my addressee.
I was marked as postage due; you were always duty free,
sending me in triplicate, but only in facsimile.
I was a bee who blithely bumbled, in wrath and rhapsody.
I was Tweedle-dumdum; you were Tweedle-dee,
who wrapped me in your knickers, took me home for tea.
About the author:
Writing for a quarter century but just recently self-publishing:
In the artist’s words:
Christopher Woods lives in Chappell Hill, Texas. He has published a novel, THE DREAM PATCH, a prose collection, UNDER A RIVERBED SKY, and a book of stage monologues for actors, HEART SPEAK. His work has appeared in many journals including THE SOUTHERN REVIEW, NEW ORLEANS REVIEW and GLIMMER TRAIN. His book of photography prompts for writers, FROM VISION TO TEXT, is forthcoming from PROPERTIUS PRESS. His novella, HEARTS IN THE DARK, is forthcoming from RUNNING WILD PRESS. Gallery – http://christopherwoods.