The creek

We choose leaves carefully, the kind very green
and glossy on one side light bouncing
and bouncing off them. White on the other,

midveins clear, veins clear, and in the curl,
of their own accord they curl, we place
three petals say, or 14 seeds, or an earwig.

And now as evening falls we tear dry bark
into tiny strips and in each leaf
we place a ball of this and I let him light it.

We push each leaf out to an eddy where
it is tugged and turned and sent on.
Such a pretty sight.

 

from the collection The Rope Walk published by Seraph Press

https://mariamcmillan.weebly.com/