by Donna Emerson
Dust-filled shafts of sunlight
stream through our thrown willow branches
a canopy over us, our hiding place
where we barely fit, legs stick together
on Mom’s chenille bedspread
in the thicket, listening to crunch of tires
boys throwing buckeyes across the alley.
We chew on onion grass
whisper our secret plan through cupped hands.
We play Davy Crockett at the Alamo
one of us shot, then dead,
then both breathing, bouncing back
to our buckskin tent.
Outside, the German shepherd
sniffs for trouble, pokes his nose in.
We push our four feet against him.
We will stay the night
run away from home next week.
Donna received her Bachelor’s of Science and Masters in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley (1966,1968). She has worked as a school social worker, medical social worker, and clinical social worker (LCSW) in private practice, as well as college instructor and writer. She is also a published photographer.
Retired from college teaching and clinical social work practice, Donna’s recent publications include the Paterson Literary Review and the London Magazine. She’s been nominated for two Pushcarts, Best of the Net, received two Allen Ginsberg awards (2015, 2017) and published four chapbooks. Her second book, ‘Beside the Well,’ was released in December 2019. Visit her work at her website: http://donnaemerson.com.
