& there was a reason for it,
just as there was a reason for her to smile.
& when the light of a cool summer evening
hit in just the right way,
shadows fell into the cracks of her;
filling them up and
drawing lines of the night sky down
into her face.
you could also see the long and narrow darkness
between the weathered porch boards
under her weathered feet

& in the distance she was
any hammock
small tan arms outstretched and
dressed in white mesh
roped to to thick trees for support;
for she is wise and knows she cannot carry the weight of others on her own.

and as a rocking chair,
she is small and sturdy -
hair short and woven-in-wicker;
creaking slightly,
p e r h a p s
back and forth into [& out of] a smile

she is ready
she is ready and waiting
to hold and rock me
in the shade of herself
as a roof

simple in colour, perhaps,
but she wears her shingles well.
the weight of water is great in the rain, but

little she knows
if straight is relative
she is on a slant

raindrops rolling off small, empowered shoulders like mine / & my arms / & my hands / & me.

on this weathered porch
under this strong roof
rocking
and leaning
on the railing
looking up at the clouds.

08/18/2002

Posted on 08/18/2002
Copyright © 2024 Brynn Dizack