My Writing, Poetry, Ramblings

Mud Boats

Rachel Sandell

I know, I know. I keep saying I’m a prose writer. But poetry is just so satisfying to write, and it’s also fun to share! I wrote this one with specific characters in mind (not necessarily my own characters), but I prefer to let it stand on its own. Enjoy!

***

Mud Boats

Green gems and emerald irises

set in a face of freckles;

unruly curls that bounce when she runs.

I never stood a chance.

 

Her legs are always moving,

running, squatting, kicking.

Her hands never sit still,

so I can never hold one.

 

She is a flitting bird,

a shooting star.

Her smile is huge, honest, bright;

I can’t look away.

 

She runs in the rain and

stomps in a puddle

and splashes mud

all over her brown skirt.

 

She wants to sail away

if only we could find

true north, and our boat

was not made of mud.

 

I’ve never been in love before.

I wonder if she has?

But if I ask, I might have to admit,

and how would she react?

 

Would she laugh,

an explosion of moonbeams?

Would she stare at me

with blankness in her emerald eyes?

 

Maybe I’m crazy,

but I’m not afraid.

My hands are steady

upon her sail.

 

Photo by Chester Ho on Unsplash

Published by Rachel Sandell

Rachel Sandell is a writer and editor from Washington State, where rainy days necessitate long books, hot chocolate, and plenty of magic. Though she specializes in speculative fiction and harbors a love for the dark and enchanting, she also dabbles in poetry and is the archive project coordinator for Fireweed: Poetry of Oregon. She is an MFA graduate from the Rainier Writing Workshop, and her short stories have appeared in SORTES magazine, Night Picnic Press, and Leading Edge magazine.