There I was in black velvet,
stitched with fluorescent thread—
a trellis for thirteen roses,
dying but not dead.
Just a sprite under your blacklight,
learning moonlight is a lie—
escaping from your elf-owl-moonhowl
gaze of promise pantomimed.
© 2025 Jennifer Wagner
Day 19 of National Poetry Month
Elf owls are nocturnal predators and are the world’s smallest raptor. Males make a yapping noise like a puppy to attract a mate.
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| image © 2025 emma & clint |
A settlement on a hill,
whole,
together, stone
mountain lovers—
birds born
of rain, of forest, of snow—
soon to be one,
blood and bone.
The lights, their eyes—
azure, emerald, form
a curving of hands, hearts
together feathered into
the beautiful poem of home.
© 2025 Jennifer Wagner
I rarely post process notes with my poems, but for this one, here goes: my son, Clint, whose name means “a settlement on a hill,” recently became engaged to his love, Emma, whose name means “whole.” He proposed at Stone Mountain Park, a special place for the two of them. He comes from rain land, she from snow. His eyes are blue, hers are green. They are very much birds of a feather—having the same heart to serve people. They have been doing so here in the US, with plans to do so soon abroad. They are just simply beautiful poetry together.