It was not the answer
I expected when I asked,
“Will you walk with me and she?”
His answer — yes.
We followed that well-used trail
beneath the dripping canopy,
wound our footsteps
over root and stone and skeleton leaf,
while he spoke of things fantastical
and philosophical,
and I interrupted,
naming wildflowers and birdsong —
each admiring the other’s expertise.
(She, well, not a word did she speak.)
He remarked,
as we approached the divide
where the trail ducks
from tree-cover and breaks out
upon the marsh,
that he did not expect
to enjoy this quite so much,
that he had not at all in years past.
We stood a moment,
we three,
among the blown cattails,
listening to the chickadees
and the wind scrape
among greening reeds.
All we had ever had to do
was wait.
–C.Birde, 5/16
4 Comments
your narrative creates a drama. it provides just enough information to make the reader want to know what happens next, but also leaves out information. that keeps the reader intrigued. the last two lines give a strong closure.
As aways, I am grateful for your generous comments and feedback. I work from such an intuitive place, that reading your response offers me clarity as to WHY I do what I do — similar to dream analysis. Thank you 🙂 Ad please forgive my delayed response — I’m experiencing a frustrating bout of tendonitis. ;(
it’s been a pleasure reading your work. i think i’ve enjoyed everything that you have posted since i first became aware of your blog. sorry to read about the tendonitis. i’m trying to imagine what it would be like to type while suffering from that problem. i hope that you get better soon.
Thank you, sincerely — for your kind words and healing wishes…I am trying some new approaches and seeing some small, positive improvements regarding the tendonitis…fingers crossed! 🙂