Hunting Season

The leaves in silent fire

are mellowing,

a cool, crisp blaze

before the frost—

the last cracKle, pOp

before Old Man Winter

grays us with his beard.

We watch

as orange and white

petals of autumn suns

l           i           n          g                      e                                  r

like paper lanterns,

and then

the current

rolls them on—

I snuggle in

close beside you,

sip roasted dandelion tea

dripped with honey in the cup,

and on my tongue—

hoping you

track the scent

and catch me

mid-fall.

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

Poets United: The Poetry Pantry

Judgment

I was

one thing

to you only.

One thing.

How could I bear

the weight of

all you could

never see of me?

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

Old Red Farm Truck

If I were the old red

farm truck

I’d rust gracefully,

warm myself

in the sun

no matter

who was looking

or not looking.

I’d rumble through town

turning heads and

causing

classy kinds

to sputter,

gape and guffaw

at my sheer lack

of gloss.

I’d smell like tobacco,

oranges,

and tar—

even on Saturday nights

when I’d

idle slowly,

taking up more space

than they’d think

I ought to have,

and park

at the old drive-in

with Coke and popcorn

stuck to my seat

while somebody

kisses somebody else

for the first time,

forever.

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

For Poetry Jam:  If I Were

Credible Hulk

Rounding the corner

I see him

and can tell

he wants to talk.

I pull

the earbuds

from my ears—

Hi, buddy.  How ya doing?  Having fun out here?

—Good!  Yes.

Seeing a pumpkin in his yard, I ask,

what are you going to be for Halloween?

—I’m gonna be

the ‘Credible Hulk!

Great choice.  We really don’t

have enough of those, you know.

His smile leaps up

like a grasshopper

and then he bounds away, too.

I replace the earbuds,

keep walking,

and whisper—

Godspeed, little man,

godspeed.

© 2014 Jennifer

A snippet of a conversation I had with a little boy I met as I was on a walk.  Of course he meant The Incredible Hulk, but the way he said it is so much better.  Smiles!