by Odette Nightsky
Early summer, I am picture window
early summer, I am picture window
searching husband for hire
some gutter-care lawn-brawny
eager and able to whip unruly beds
trim longish grass, willing
to be seasoned, while I
unspool long days
doing every anything not
to be out in the toasty golden
guilty sum of seconds not not revelling
shaded from glowy June
dry in thunderstruck July
unsmacked by hot handed August
daily I tell myself tomorrow
tomorrow I will
up early, set out sun-kissed
water bottle adventuring
vibrant blossom fruiting
sumptuous tan-line perfecting
‘til gloomy blink October
finds me pale as I’ve ever been
watching first snow pyre ash Fall
too soon flattened yellow grass
leafless trees wagging fingers
conifers brimming pine cone tears
evergreen branches shush-shushing
my feigned protestations
Ren Pike grew up in Newfoundland. Through sheer luck, she was born into a family who understood the exceptional value of a library card. Her work has appeared in Train, Pithead Chapel, and FEED. When she is not writing, she wrangles data for non-profit organizations in Calgary, Canada. http://rpike.mm.st/
Odette Nightsky. Shamanic Counsellor, Author, Educator. www.contemporaryshaman.net