THE MUSEYou owe me. Pay up. According to my accounts, you have...
CASUAL FRIENDSend lies to the people listed below....
THE AWARDS COMMITTEEThis is to notify you that--but what's the use?...
THE WISEThe world could fall to pieces with no notice....
UNCLE ALA chicken is a touchy creature....
THE OTHERSHere where we live the lines are down and the surprises build into snowbanks...
DANNYDusty Clinton Township kids making paper roosters and snowball...
SAMUEL RENSBERGER I am your grandfather's grandfather and through my wakeless sleep I dream...
OLD NEIGHBOREast across low muddy fields and behind the screening trees you can see...
THE WORM COUNCILWe call your attention to worms. Though sweeping ice age disaster...
THE HERONI flew in down by the round deep pond behind your house...
WITNESSI saw the largest moon ever rise huge bright yellow, sailing where it cared to...
TO TURTLE
The round house and the
snakey eyes, the slow going
always. You are a favorite
for stories: We tell a long one
with you wise, a funny one
with you dumb and honest.
Mostly you're lucky somehow.
It must have started some time ago:
a man with heavy bones
and his nose in the dirt
snuffling up to your still water,
watching you under the sun,
seeing you make your stories
in the water and mud and old logs.