getaway
the only distractions here
are mergansers gliding through
gold and black bands
trailing slashes
sometimes the hoarse hiccup of gull
or a loon’s two-pitched wail
a time to rest and be
but always the nagging thought
am I doing enough?
how can I move
like the trees around me
whose leaf buds burst quietly
unfurl effortlessly
make air without thought
do what the plan prompts
just flow in accordance with all
memory/reboot/presence
every day
I walk around
trying to remember
to hit save
but sometimes
I feel
the green grass
just wants me
to press against it
mindlessly
in the bird hide
in the bird hide
everything is simple
all we’re invited to do
is be:
come look notice appreciate praise
avocado green water laps
against deep brown stilts
a fresh breeze filters in
ruffles the novel pages
and scatters the Coke cans
nyala, impala sidle down to sip
and our eyelids droop
while nothing much transpires
until all in a moment
two wooly-necked storks
descend with a clatter
throw rainbows our way
then remind us
what love looks like –
gently plucking parasites
from the beloved’s trusting neck
