Christopher Kuhl’s most recent poem to appear here was “Silent Prayer” (January 2020).

Oasis
By Christopher Kuhl

Tall, straight trees
linger over the river.

In the autumn, they share
their bright leaves and needles

in a soft place for me
to sit and read,
or burrow into

beneath the afternoon sun
for a long, warm nap,
waking just as

the sun goes down
and a chill hangs in the air.

I know it’s time to dig out
of the leaves
and continue on my way,

destination unknown, as the moon
rises from the east, silvering

the trees’ reflections in the water
winding between its deep, ancient,
clay-rimmed banks.