Here
under pines made black by light and shadows
I come sometimes to sit awhile, and think.
Here
beside the markers
placed so we will never forget all these forgotten people
I let my thoughts stray places I would not let them go in sunlight.
Here
the movement in the trees are beasts and demons, thoughts rise unbidden
and I let them run, follow their paths and see where they take me.
through underbrush and fallen leaves, and I wipe names free from grime
and read the stories and make my own
Here
where drunken teenagers and would-be Goths pretend at destinies they’ll never have
I sit and read a book and dream awhile,
and my dreams have wings and legs and teeth
and I know them
and they are
mine.
Image courtesy of Hayley Mechelle Bouchard. Her work can be found at Little Cat Photography, with more information about Hayley on Our Contributors page.