Some of my observations from a walk in the park.

Go Outside

1

   On the road
   a bright apple
   too perfect to throw
   a hungry person’s feast

   "Le fond de l'air est frais,"
   you say, quoting your French husband's
   observation of fall weather.
   "Under the warm air is coolness" - He means
   Winter is coming.
   

   Beneath the chestnut tree
   street rubbed brown 
   chestnut leaves fall first

   Niqab-wearing women push strollers
   Behind their eyes, a Mogadishu of pain   

   Lying in the park
   Stratus clouds above
   Trees wavering.
   You say,
   “When the sky moves
   It’s hard to tell what’s standing still.”

   Two owls
   A raccoon
   A squirrel 
   Each with stuffed-animal eyes
   Carved into a tree trunk.

   Two runners
   dog walkers
   men with babies
   Indian moms in rainbow saris
   A man with a camera and his dreams

   A Chinese couple pause,
   Put down their groceries
   And pull out badminton rackets, birdies.
   Laughing as they hit
   Volley after volley
   Before heading home.
   

   High, very high
   Gulls swoop.
   “Poetry is a bird,” you say.
   “Prose is a dog
   Snuffling along the path.”

   Talking about our daughters
   I say, “Your parents were careless –
   They had no idea.

   Not unlike ourselves.”