"a bi-monthly journal of environmental news and commentary..."

What We Need (For Barbara Gibson)

by Craig Oare

A bench by a trail is a pleasant seat,
though a tree or a rock will do.
The sky can be bright or black or gray,
though I hid like every other creature
from yesterday's monsoon.
Sparrows and squirrels are always around,
though mosquitoes occasionally rule.
Some Blue Heron Bakery gorp would be good,
though the sharp-billed one herself would be better.

And of course we want paper to save the words,
though sometimes there are no words.
Sometimes those are the holiest days,
when we know we're not going anywhere,
when we know, Barbara, we're always there.

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