Nels Hanson
Consider
Consider the snail’s patient wheel
a caterpillar’s M-shaped progress
garter snake drawing S’s in weeds
sparrow claw perching blue basin’s
rim, unblinking hawk’s eye circling
noon, jackrabbit leaping in zigzags
down a vine row. Nails of gophers
scratch darkly, alert grey squirrel
courses power line between maples
white foot of clam gropes tidal floor
waves knocking overhead. Raccoon’s
curved hands caress a yellow peach
sure leg-tips of spiders thread fresh
gossamer to string the deadly circle
as lost climbers try pack ice, saddle
high heel falling softly onto Berber
or ballerina’s silk toe poised against
hurt, summer purple Santa Rosa plum
tartly sweet as the black Bing cherry
bearing autumn’s hard stone of rain.
