I stopped on the little bridge over the creek today
to let the sun caress my back,
the wind float my sweat away,
the lazy pull of the water streamline my thoughts.
The sky was blue, and the ground sparkled,
illuminating the gray reeds rubbing against the bank.
I leaned my elbows on the wooden railing, eyes half-lidded,
and watched.
A hum trembled up the bridge as
a woman and her German Shepherd hurried passed.
When she reached the end, she paused and stared at me.
“Are you ok?”
I suppose she was used to other dog walkers with tight leashes,
children sprinting over and reluctant parents following,
bikes and skateboards and scooters.
Not me.
When I considered the question,
I smiled wide enough for my front teeth to touch my bottom lip.
Looking at her, eyes already darting further up the path,
I knew which of us was the lucky one.
“Yeah. I’m good.”
She nodded and moved on, German Shepherd in pursuit,
while I turned back to the creek underneath the little bridge
and lived.
Grace Nask is the pen name of a Central Bucks West student who specializes in young adult and fantasy, sometimes together. She has been published by Adelaide, Down in the Dirt, and Fledgling literary magazines. She works in a bookstore. One could learn more about her by visiting her Facebook page or website.
Poet’s Corner is curated by Bucks County Poet Laureate Tom Mallouk and supported by a grant to the Bucks County Herald Foundation made possible by Marv and Dee Ann Woodall.
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