by Sheniz Janmohamed
slick scales slipping under the silver swathe of lake
your salt encrusted emerald robe
sweeping the ground with gifts of sprouted grass
you know me before you reach me
the white wisp of tangled light tapering down your chin
your lichen licked arms reach out to me
a hand extends to reveal a rose cupped in your thorn-cut fingers
you stand against the wind
a tall blade of grass holding up the sky
I ask
where have you been all this time?
you laugh,
a gurgle of lake pebbles rattling in your throat
look around you
tree rock lake river hill
when did I leave?
— from Juniper Volume 4, Issue 2