Featured Poem

Stay Close to the Willows

Is a country way of sayin’

remain near home,

don’t venture far, 

keep nearby.

Once you embody shadow

under the pine’s umbrella  

and grace the riverbank, 

turn around, go no farther.

A botanical guidepost,

a sinewy, shrubby stop sign.

I wish I had a willow now.

I wish I had a willow

outside my apartment door,

down the steps, in the courtyard,

on the edge of the sidewalk.

A rooted, leggy reminder 

to return inside, 

distance myself from you.

First published in Pangyrus - October 31, 2020