Visitant

Cloudy morning on the lawn as it materialized

grasshopper on my knee

crawling across, then backing up in a circle

now side-passing, now pivoting on front legs

like horse and rider opening a gate

sitting still now in the feathery rain

black head, tan abdomen, zebra legs.

And what does it see?

Apricot tree shivers

wind chimes clatter like a gamelan.

How long do I have to wait to tell you what happened

just the two of us?

Gold vein in east clouds

now it's gone

doors slamming inside the house

nobody home.

Appeared in The Weekly Avocet (11/30/16)

Photo: idtools.org