today's
walk
began
at
seven
when
the back alley cat
that I saw
stalking
killed a large rat.
This tiny calico, with
its great grey prey
slipped
quick
up the hill
as I wandered to
the riverside.
Finding a single lily, fire-flecked
drew me to
a few
false indigo in bloom,
while four
young ducks nodded
in the dark water
as a boat's wake shook them.
Then I took the wood path
headed
for the footbridge
its floor boro
sashiko stitched
pitched in
a slight sweep
where underneath ashore
three men fished
loosened lines, slipped creels
into currents
for their
gap-mouthed
catch.
Afterward,
I took the stairs up
the bluff and
some streets away
spoke
with
a man named Gary
who showed me
his garden folly
in green perspective
before I left
and met
a teacher
a dog
a soused lout outside
the grocery store.
All this
before I slipped
a peek inside
my own garden
where
rusting bells told
the hour
and time turned
the walk
around
toward
dusk
and home.
walk
began
at
seven
when
the back alley cat
that I saw
stalking
killed a large rat.
This tiny calico, with
its great grey prey
slipped
quick
up the hill
as I wandered to
the riverside.
Finding a single lily, fire-flecked
drew me to
a few
false indigo in bloom,
while four
young ducks nodded
in the dark water
as a boat's wake shook them.
Then I took the wood path
headed
for the footbridge
its floor boro
sashiko stitched
pitched in
a slight sweep
where underneath ashore
three men fished
loosened lines, slipped creels
into currents
for their
gap-mouthed
catch.
Afterward,
I took the stairs up
the bluff and
some streets away
spoke
with
a man named Gary
who showed me
his garden folly
in green perspective
before I left
and met
a teacher
a dog
a soused lout outside
the grocery store.
All this
before I slipped
a peek inside
my own garden
where
rusting bells told
the hour
and time turned
the walk
around
toward
dusk
and home.
