A heron waits
to grab fish from the river,
a blossom to ladle rain
and a woman sits
on the porch with her lips
shimmering, clasped in pink jade.

She wonders when
you will break the silence,
tug loose her string of lies
and let the water orbit
in circles this shore bird
will perceive as minnows,
this magnolia will sense
as clouds beginning to weep.



�2006 by Wendy Howe