Ruth Gooley’s most recent poem to appear here was “Rain Song” (July 2018).
Unexpected Encounter
By Ruth Gooley
Ticks, rattlesnakes,
the oily embrace of poison oak,
and my sweat-stenched shirt,
the hurt of blister inducing boots
and the heavy slog uphill.
The flash of a cottontail,
a dash beneath a brickell bush.
I stop, peer down,
find the bunny,
catch her squat on the ground.
We stick to the moment,
mix glances,
both aquiver in the breeze,
frozen, eye to eye. A rush,
and the rabbit skitters away.
I bolt up the trail after,
scoop up gorp,
cranberries, almonds, chocolate,
dance on the upslope,
sing on the hill’s flaming crest.
I admit to being partial to bunnies. All the same, this charming poem filled my wintry heart. Its language music is particularly pleasing to the inner ear. A moment of sweetness in the cold air. Thank you!
The bad-good of this poem — and its momentum out and up — yes!