Story Time in Shestakove
a village in Kharkiv Oblast, eastern Ukraine
Small groups of children gather
in the colors
of song and tattered flags.
The young woman’s voice a path
they know to follow
into the hills.
Across the trellis of fresh-turned fields
chains of smoke
suddenly bud.
The rearing horse, the rider
turning in his silver armor
for a last look.
A flame ascends the tower
up the long plea
of the braid.
Today’s tale is over.
He sheds his gloves
finger by finger.
* * * * *
For the Poets
You are reeling fish
out of the air
whether you are willing
or not
You keep doing it
It is appeasement
It is not helping much
Any
But
as the acorn is the oak’s fortress
as the egg is the descent
the bird makes
seeking to rise
though there are no fish
you know they are there