fine poetry to turn your world around
HORSES IN THE GULLY —After the painting, “All the Tired Horses in the Sun,” by A.C. CanonThe artist says they’re tired,maybe because they’re in a gully,each direction a climb no discernible road. Whyis one of the horses red, the sky orange? Why are the spots on the red horse blotchylike the white spots in the […]
What The Apple SaidI must say, I was really getting tired, Eve,of just hanging aroundon a tree that everyone—alltwo of you—knewno one should touch. Tiredof watching that sneak of a serpentcoil around this lonely, darktrunk on which Godhad nailed a NO TRESPASSING sign.Eve, I thrilledfrom my core through my fleshto my loosening stemwhen I saw […]
A Brief History of Wetzel County – by Bonnie ProudfootHere is a hill, a trail,shale rocks crumble into earthwhen I step on them,canes of multiflora rose tugmy legs, arms, neck, face. Herefog hugs the valleys,autumn sun dips behindthe ridgeline before 3:00,stumps of chestnut treesare wider than anyliving trees, squirrelshide in oak branches.Here Lewis Wetzel, bornin […]
Late-Life ContentmentI like my late-life belly, its rounded willingnessmetaphor for Swiss chocolate, crème brûlée, butter on hottoast. When the doctor squints and says “body mass” I say“you won’t believe who joined me for a good meal at that littlerestaurant!” Besides, most descriptions of weight-loss dietsare such an insult to the children starving in Gaza—if you […]
