In The Forest
Near
the forest in a field staring wide-eyed still soundlessly deer, sshhh. I stand next to the river. The water is a window, i can see the fish all the way to the bottom of any of the streams that run off down into the hills. Throughout the summer growing season the ginkgo, oak, elm, spruce and cedar -- chestnuts and persimmon start to spread. And the strange Sycamore trees. Needles and leaves are scattered upon the ground thick as a carpet. There is the heavy smell of pine gum. The pine trees themselves touch across the forest floor with a turpentine, fish bone, spiny-cone, sharp clove-smelling paint brush hand. A green paint brush for a hand. In the winter the snow is cut sharply by thirsty ice on a knife-like bank. The edge of this river slices against my bare raw exposed ankles trembling, moving quickly in the cold running pebble-bottomed brook I usually call a river. Can’t forget to wear your socks in the winter. Like, I always try to get away with it anyway. Better than getting my socks wet when I break the ice with my feet like I usually do. The cold feels good though. At least, at first, until I get home into the warmth and then my toes start to sting. Better luck next time. Next time the crack from the crashing ice won’t send the deer running for the next county. Near the forest in a field staring wide-eyed, large eared, white-tailed, the color of wood and dry grass, inside the sounds, underneath the sounds I make with my wide-track feet are the deer again, sshhh. A bird I hadn’t heard before sings under the whisper of a deer’s breath. Sounds a lot closer than I thought. I turn slowly and back down in my mind, you know. Deer can kick. They aren’t really that small when you are practically standing right next to them. Copyright c 2016, Cathy Smith |
The Collected Poetry of Cathy Smith, "Waiting for the Sunrise" is on Nook, Kindle, Scribd, Kobo, Tolino, Playster, Apple, 24 Symbols, Intera, OverDrive and many, many more domestic and international ebook stores.
All poems Copyrighted by Cathy Smith 2016, excerpted from "Apple Cider-Poetry Journal #1" & "Wishes on the Edge of Time-Poetry Journal #2" see links for E-books. All digital poetry books are full color. Many photographs.
My Other Poetry/Photo Site My video-music poetry site
All poems Copyrighted by Cathy Smith 2016, excerpted from "Apple Cider-Poetry Journal #1" & "Wishes on the Edge of Time-Poetry Journal #2" see links for E-books. All digital poetry books are full color. Many photographs.
My Other Poetry/Photo Site My video-music poetry site
Both poetry Journals are now combined into one edition: "Waiting for the Sunrise" in
paperback on Amazon $6 plus shipping. GET BOTH POETRY JOURNALS AS AN EBOOK on many book sites.
Note: Due to pricing concerns, only the E-Book versions are in color, all photos are in black in the paperback which is a lovely coffee table 'Book of Days'. All the poems you read here are included, of course. Put it on your coffee table and amuse your literary visitors!
paperback on Amazon $6 plus shipping. GET BOTH POETRY JOURNALS AS AN EBOOK on many book sites.
Note: Due to pricing concerns, only the E-Book versions are in color, all photos are in black in the paperback which is a lovely coffee table 'Book of Days'. All the poems you read here are included, of course. Put it on your coffee table and amuse your literary visitors!