Featured Works: Week of Sept. 21 (Animals)
As Wild Violet returns to our weekly publishing schedule, we begin with four poems on our relationship with animals. “Seal and Pup on the Beach” by John Grey presents a close-up view of one of life’s miraculous moments. “Flying Tortoise” by Sarah Carleton tells the story of a young nature lover rescuing a reptilian friend. “Learning to Mourn” by Sarah Carleton depicts the stark reality of a first experience with death. “Turnout” by Bridget Kerr celebrates the connection between a horse and its...
Read MoreTurnout
The sweet aroma of horse and hay in half-light: barn cat spats, the clatter and scraping of rakes mucking stalls, scoops coming from the grain bin water hoses snaking up and down the barn aisle. This is a discipline for health, a way to keep daily practice of fresh air, sunshine, and amble. It starts with the murmur of walk-on, permission to pass through stall doors swung wide, hooves clop-clopping along cement then stepping out quickening pace through the gravel barnyard. Up the hill, beyond hot electric fence, free from halters they kick heels, thrilled to frisk and run together or deftly,...
Read MoreLearning to Mourn
Dirty fingers part the nylon nest and search for life, stroke a pair of minute spines, checking the damp, unfeathered skin for signs of breathing. The jays lie lumped together, pink and raw, wet dog food wedged in their beaks. This time last year my son waded in the bay with a busload of first graders, gathering crab casings, gooey fish and bright shells in buckets, all floating and splashing in the sun, while we parents stood knee-deep and absentmindedly watched the shallows for submerged heads and floundering limbs, aware of the forces that drag children under, that led two classmates to a...
Read MoreFlying Tortoise
My son can tell turtle from tortoise and this one’s the latter, breast-stroking half-webbed arms through the air while sailing forward, held in small hands that carry the critter like a messy hamburger (fingers on the underside, thumbs on hexagons, elbows angled). The tortoise’s tough reptilian arms curve, sweep and retract, dry-swimming as we airlift him from parking lot to forest. We laugh at the audacity of his black bullet head which he stretches out front like a curious tourist. “He likes me,” says Felix, setting him carefully down in a puddle. “Animals always like...
Read MoreSeal and Pup on the Beach
Barely two feet long, its fur dries in Hawaiian sun to a rich silken ebony. Blue-black eyes hide behind rings of warm white sand. Its mother rolls over on her side, uncovering a glaucous belly, four budding nipples. The pup twists onto its back to nurse, a gentle sucking, soft as waves retreating from the beach. Then, it folds up under its mother’s chin like a beard, crosses its flippers across its chest, and sleeps the sleep of love and safety. The tide ebbs but all else...
Read MoreWild Violet Featured Works: Week of April 7 (Spring)
This week, Wild Violet returns to our weekly publishing schedule with poems incorporating the imagery and transitional nature of Spring. All are poems, in honor of National Poetry Month. “Haiga” by Richard Heby is a haiku paired with a photo, with an image of winter yet promising spring. “A New Language” by Joannie Stangeland traces both winter and grief melting away into acceptance and hope. “Scrub Jays” by Donald Gaither is a haiku capturing the spirit of birds in...
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